Absolutism and Relativism

6 important questions on Absolutism and Relativism

What are absolutism and relativism?

Claims about how entities possess a certain property

What is absolutism about truth?

the claim that propositions of truth value (true or false) is an intrinsic property of it, given how the world.
Whether a proposition is true or false does nor depend on standpoint.

What is relativism about truth?

Is the claim that the truth value of a proposition depends on standpoint.
propositions have different truth values from different standpoints.
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On what grounds would one endorse absolutism about rationality?

  • To be rational is to reason in accord with the world.
    • to be rational is to draw decisions that go with the flow with the world and not against.
  • A style of reasoning intrinsically either is or is not in accord with the world
    • Furthermore, since the world is unique, only one style of reasoning is rational.

What is relativism about rationality?

A style of Reasoning has or lacks rationality only relative to standpoint.

standpoint: an intellectual or cultural setting

Different styles of reasoning are on a par in their own settings.

Implications: non-uniqueness claim
- no single style of reasoning has a privileged relation with reality.

On what grounds would one endorse relativism about rationality? (attractiviness)

  1. 1. Evidence of plurality of reasoning styles.
    1. history of science (week 6)
    2. cultural psychology
    3. cultural anthropology
  2. Unwillingness to rank reasoning styles for validity.

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