Struggles with Relativism

People will disagree with your devotion to the good. Most of them are grumpy. Its very rare you get someone who is devoted to doing bad. It is the third group that will cause some complexity...

Relativists.

Fear not! Let them know that you love relativism, and that without it, you wouldn't do as much good in the world as you do.

Relativity concerning human issues springs from many sources. Relativism identifies the aspects of human life that seem to be universal, but are actually relative to the situation. This attitude can be used to question the universality of truth, goodness, beauty, reality, and value. The statement goes something like this:

"Sure, X may be true/good/beautiful/real/valuable in this situation, but in another place, or with other people, or if events had been otherwise, it could actually be false/bad/ugly/unreal/valueless."

The relative question has been asked by many people in many ages. Sociologists, historians, theologans, scientists, philosophers, psychologists, as well as punks, musicians, hitmen, cartoon artists, civil war reenactors, and rennesance faire cast members.

Now, not all versions of relativism are generated in by the same ideas. In fact, there are many paths to this particular notion. The Sapir-Warf hypothesis is an example of linguistic relativsm. A vast number of deconstrutive thinkners, from Nitche to Fish, have postulated accounts. Post modernism, liberalism, secularism, and post colonialism have all been interpreted as having roots in or leading to relativism. It even emerges in faith traditions that allow for multiple interpretations of the divine, and especially in faiths that believe in multiple realities.

While any one of these traditions can give a nuanced account of their particualr skepticism of the absolute, I find that it can really be summed up like this: One guy says, "Things are like this." Relativist says, "If we changed the assumptions and looked at it differently, wouldn't it seem, and perhaps even be, different?"

Thats relativsim in a very small nutshell. I encourage you to learn more. No one quite agrees when discussing this topic, which both plauges and oddly supports the ideology.

Why are we worried about it? Relativists often take issue with people who claim to be working with the truth, the beautiful, the real, the valuable, and the good. And for good reason, too! People often fervently work toward one and, working because of a particular truth, and if that thing were not true... well... wouldn't their life be going the wrong direction?

Consider it yourself. Imagine the person who is always right, constantly impinging their world on the world of others. Shouldn't they be a little more realistic about differences between people?


Here is the particular problem with this project: it relies on all of what relativist might have issue. We are diligently seeking the good, endlessly learning what is real, orienting ourselves toward the beautiful, trying to be mindful of what is true, and striving to want what is actually valuable. If any one of these notions are destroyed, the whole project fails.

So here are a few philosophical possiblilities;
1.) Relativism is false
2.) Relativism is true, some of the time
3.) Relativism is true, depending on how you look at it
4.) Relativism is true about everything

Having covered the bases, the argument concerning relativism can continue to rage, and we'll know where we stand no matter what.

If its #1, we don't have to worry. Our system of absolutes is safe.

It its #2, we have some work to do. We assert that there are some ultimate truths, beauties, (you get the point), and that those are ones that should be striven for no matter what. Concerning the particulars of a situation, we check in the the abosolute truths we know, and ask if the particulars are in violation of things we are confident of. If they are, revise. If not, let it be.

If its #3, we go out for drinks (now, I don't drink, but I'll go with you and order a Sprite).

And if its #4...

Fret not! All is not lost. If it's true that what we value depends, and there is no underlying truth to be had, we can still do good. Here's how. Assert the truth. Things are relative because people can have different notions about an issue... so change their notions. Strive to create the ideal mindset in a world that was created by a morally lazy author. If truth is dependant on human perception, alter the perceptions of other so that it entails the world we want to create. Just because things got deconstructed doesn't mean we can't reconstruct them!

And when they ask us why, we clearly communicate our values. Its not that relativism is non critical, its that the critique changes depending on the underlying values. So speak clearly about the values that you espouse. Say, "I value all things, and I strive to put the world into right order by avoiding the most suffering and creating the most satisfaction. I value goodness, even more than the truth of relativism, and will use all things to do the greatest possible good." Having said that, let them mull it over in their heads. What are they really going to do about it? Its not like they can tell you you are wrong.