Why do so many people believe in relativism?? It is contradictory.?

Answer 1

Is there anything that's absolute?

Answer 2

A lot of people profess relativist opinions on many subjects, but that doesn't mean that they "really" believe in relativism. For example, if we are in a morally trying situation, we can cop out by telling ourselves "oh, morals are relative anyway" which makes it easier for us to pursue an action that might be regarded as less than praiseworthy. Does it really make sense to assert that one believes something, but at the same time maintain that that belief is only "ones opinion", and necessarily equal in weight to other opinions? Doesnt the belief that, for example, "there is a chair in this room" include in it that "There is not a chair in this room" is false? If this is the case, how could it make sense for one to actually hold this belief and at the same time argue that all beliefs are relative?

Many proponents of relativism like to cite that lack of convincing "foundational" arguments for the reliability of our senses, the existence of right and wrong ,etc, as reasons in support of relativism. They claim that without such arguments, no perspective can claim superiority over another. Relativism, though, certainly does not logically follow from this predicament. The main reasons to reject relativism are its self-contradicting nature, its lack of utility in helping us figure out what reality is or what we should do in it, and the fact the nobody actually believes it in their visceral experience of reality. Relativism is often used in practice to stifle scholarly and moral debate, and "justify" actions that would be difficult to justify in any other way.

I think of it as a "brain disease" that most thoughtful people are capable of succumbing to, which is why its good to remind oneself of the reasons for rejecting it.

Answer 3

Because perspective defines reality for an individual. If the perspectives differ between two people, they will contradict each other in their relative beliefs on the same subject. They will in fact have two differents concepts of the same reality, each valid from the two different perspectives, even if they contradict each other.

Answer 4

Relativity flexes on social opinion. Absolutes do not change.

Answer 5

P, then Q; P then not Q. A relativist says there is no contradiction here, which, of course, is absurd.

Answer 6

Yes it is relatively contradictory.

Answer 7

They cannot figure God out, so they dismiss him as myth. Puny little Man, proposing to put God under a microscope! That's infinitely worse than an amoeba trying to understand you and me! But God has promised to reveal himself to anyone who really wants to know. I say all that to say this: absolutes come from God. Without Him, everything else is mere speculation as to what is right or wrong.