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- Relativism - meaning & definition
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Translate Files Relativism
/ˈrɛlətɪˌvɪzəm/
Meaning & Definition
noun
The belief that truth and moral values are not absolute but are relative to the persons or groups holding them.
Relativism challenges the idea of universal moral principles, suggesting that cultural context shapes what is deemed right or wrong.
A philosophical doctrine that asserts the significance of the context in which knowledge or truth claims are made, rejecting the notion of objective truth.
Philosophers engaged in the debate over epistemological relativism argue whether knowledge can truly be objective.
A view in social sciences that suggests human behavior and practices can only be understood in their cultural context.
Cultural relativism advocates for understanding societal norms and practices within their own context, rather than judging them by external standards.
Etymology
From Latin 'relativus', meaning 'having relation; relating to something else'.
Common Phrases and Expressions
moral relativism
The belief that morality is not universal and can vary between cultures.
cultural relativism
The practice of evaluating a culture by its own standards rather than comparing it with one's own.
epistemological relativism
The view that the validity of knowledge claims is relative to the social context in which they are made.
Related Words
absolutism
The doctrine that there are absolute truths and moral standards.
contextualism
The theory that context is crucial in understanding truth and meaning.
subjectivism
The philosophical belief that knowledge is subjective to individual experiences.
Slang Meanings
It's all subjective
When discussing opinions, you might say, 'It's all subjective, that's just relativism.'
Different strokes for different folks
In debates about lifestyle choices, one might use the phrase 'different strokes for different folks' to indicate a relativistic viewpoint.