What does it mean when something is "relative" in philosophy?

Question

For example, A relative argument.
or "its all relative"

And what do you belive? yes or no?

Answer 1

When someone claims X is relative, there are two things they might mean.

1. They might mean X exists only through the interaction of several things. For example, it is often claimed that moral values exist only through the interaction of the several people who hold them to be moral values. For another example, before Einstein, one theory of time was that it exists only through matter being in space and being in motion (so that if matter stopped moving in space there would be no time).

2. They might mean X exists only through the functioning of one thing. For example, it is sometimes claimed that truth is only what each person believes is the case. (Actually, such a claim when made about truth can make no sense, but people keep making it.) For another example, some have tried to claim that the words a person uses only have meaning to the person who uses them. (But it's hard to make that claim persuasive because, if it is true, other people can't really know what the person who makes it means, can they?)

Both these meanings of 'relative' are to be contrasted with 'absolute'. Something that is claimed to be absolute is claimed to be what it is independently of all other things. For example, before Einstein, Isaac Newton's theory of space held space to be absolute, which meant it would exist even if there was no matter in it. In other words, it was the theory that even if there were no things there would still be places for things.

Is everything relative? No, not even Einstein believed everything was relative. He believed that the speed of light was an absolute.

Is everything relative in philosophical terms? No. For example, the positive value of being able to make value judgments is absolutely positive - its positiveness is independent of what anyone thinks. The attempt to deny its positiveness requires its positiveness.

Answer 2

The truth of a claim depends on the context you find it in.

It's not the case that "Everything" can be true or false, and we just have to find the right conditions to make it so. "A & -A" will never be true no matter what world you put it in.

It's more like an ambiguity.

1) It's true that I'm referring to a feline animal when I say:
"Get the cat some food at the store."
2)but not true here:
"Cat Stevens goes by a different name now"

the use of "cat" in the statements are both true, provided we understand them in the correct way, namely "cat" designates a feline animal in (1) and a folk singer in (2). If "cat" always meant "feline animal" the second sentence could not make sense.

The relativity has to pre-exist the evaluation of it being so, to a degree. And you can't fudge all the propositions in a given scenario to all be true relative to different conditions. They all must adhere to one set. So you cannot, for instance, fix a paradox so that a term means benignly in one sentence, and have a strong meaning for another, in the same context/argument.

Answer 3

Yes or no what? Relative in this situation mean according to circumstances. The answer to your second and third question is relative to whatever the hell you are talking about.

Answer 4

relative means connected or related to . it's not absolute. it can also mean having pertinence or relevance. in simpler terms when a topic is considered relative it's open for suggestions and discussions . It takes a middle ground it's neither yes or no.
i believe in yes, a more positive, optimistic outlook.

Answer 5

Well, its all a relative truth. If I truly believe something, is it not, in my world, absolutely true? Lets say you believe the opposite. A 3rd perspective could see us both be right, wrong, or even both right and wrong at the same time. It all depends what box you plant yourself in, and when you decide to jump boxes.

Answer 6

It means it only has meaning compared to something else. But guess what...everything is relative.

Answer 7

Nothing is the same everywhere and at all times.Circumstances determine how actions,intentions and incidents are perceived.That to my mind makes life a delicate phenomenon

Answer 8

One person makes $100 and his rent is $25.00

One person makes $100,000 and his rent is $2500

The amount of rent each person pays is relative because of his income.

Answer 9

Relative a term used to confirm truth.
It is truthful to me.
it is relative to me.
It can be trusted.
It is truthful.
get it?