relativism

[rel-uh-tuh-viz-uh m] /ˈrɛl ə təˌvɪz əm/
noun, Philosophy
1.
any theory holding that criteria of judgment are relative, varying with individuals and their environments.
Origin
1860-65; relative + -ism
Examples from the web for relativism
  • relativism about morality has come to play an increasingly important role in contemporary culture.
  • In other words, he is decadent, and his relativism does undermine the future of literary studies.
  • None of these horrors can be excused in the name of cultural relativism.
  • With simple puzzles, experimental philosophy can tell if you view the world as an absolutist or lean toward relativism.
  • We're the products of nearly a half-century of scientific truthfulness, media skepticism, and postmodern relativism.
  • And even mild relativism seems troubling in contrast.
  • Literary studies, they feared, was turning into a mush of relativism.
  • The line you quoted above is opposite of relativism.
  • But the fatal objection to any radical relativism or subjectivism is that it can't even be coherently stated.
  • True, it allows for others to have a different morality, but that would only make it moral relativism.
British Dictionary definitions for relativism

relativism

/ˈrɛlətɪˌvɪzəm/
noun
1.
any theory holding that truth or moral or aesthetic value, etc, is not universal or absolute but may differ between individuals or cultures See also historicism
Derived Forms
relativist, noun, adjective
Word Origin and History for relativism
n.

1865, in philosophy, from relative (adj.) + -ism. Cf. relativist.

relativism in Culture

relativism definition


The doctrine that no ideas or beliefs are universally true but that all are, instead, “relative” — that is, their validity depends on the circumstances in which they are applied.