Ready for Relativism?

Pope Benedict XVI often lamented the dominance of relativism. Unfortunately, relativism has a strong hold on the 21^st century popular mind. As a philosophy, however, it is as shallow as it is widespread. Here are a few different types of relativism, and some arguments to undercut them. Let’s get relative! Or not.

Relativism about Truth in General: “There is no absolute truth.”

 Argument:

1. The statement, “there is no absolute truth,” must be either absolutely true or not absolutely true.

2. If the statement itself is absolutely true, then absolute truth does exist.

3. But in this case, relativism about truth is false.

4. If the statement is not absolutely true, then there must be at least some cases of absolute truth.
5. But if there are some cases of absolute truth, then relativism about truth is false.

6. Therefore, relativism about truth is false.

Religious Relativism: “Some religions are right for some people, other religions are right for others.”

 Argument I:

1. Many religions make specific historical claims.

(-Example: Christianity claims that Jesus physically rose from the dead at a specific place and time.)

2. Historical claims of different religions conflict.

(-Example: Today’s Judaism denies that Christ rose from the dead.)

3. If Christianity is true for Christians, and Judaism is true for Jews, then a single historical event (resurrection) both occurred and did not occur in the same place at the same time.

4. The simultaneous occurrence and non-occurrence of a single event is not possible.

5. Therefore, it is not possible for two religions, which make conflicting historical claims, to be true for different people.

6. Therefore, religious relativism is false.

 Argument II:

1. Many religions make universal claims.

(–Example: According to Christianity, Christianity is the correct religion for all people.)

2. So, if Christianity is true for one person, it is true for everyone.

3. Therefore, it is impossible for Christianity to be true for some people and not for others.

4. Therefore, religious relativism is false.

Cultural Moral Relativism: “The customs of your culture determine what is right and wrong.”

Argument I:

1. A culture can approve of rape, murder, stealing, or genocide.

2. Therefore, if cultural moral relativism is correct, then rape, murder, stealing, and genocide can be morally good.

3. But this conclusion is absurd. Rape, murder, stealing, and genocide cannot be morally good.

4. Therefore, cultural moral relativism is false.

Argument II:

1. If cultural moral relativism is true, then all attempts to change your culture’s moral standards are in themselves immoral.

2. But not all attempts to change your culture’s moral standards are immoral.

(-Example: Activism to improve a society’s attitudes about caring for the elderly is not immoral.)

3. Therefore, cultural moral relativism is false.

Argument III:

1. If cultural moral relativism is true, then a culture’s morality cannot improve, it can only change.

2. Thus, it is impossible to say that cultures progress morally.

3. But cultures do progress morally.

(-Example: Ancients used to expose their unwanted children to the wolves, whereas once the West became Christian, this stopped.)

(-Example: Americans once thought slavery was good, but we have made progress now and think it is bad.)

4. Therefore, cultural moral relativism is false.

* Photo, Pope Benedict XVI, Source: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images AsiaPac