Melchert on relativism - 1 Relativism zConnections between Mill & relativism yGertrude Himmelfarb...
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Transcript of Melchert on relativism - 1 Relativism zConnections between Mill & relativism yGertrude Himmelfarb...
Melchert on relativism - 1
Relativism
Connections between Mill & relativism Gertrude Himmelfarb argues that Mill, by
making truth dependent on falsity (false ideas are useful for keeping true ones alive and for finding good reasons for the true ones), tends to make truth and falsity equals. She argues that this position lends
credence to the current relativist temper.
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Relativism
Another argument for a connection between Mill’s ideas and the current relativism is rooted in Mill’s individualism.Extreme individualism fosters the
view that each person’s beliefs and values are valid for him or her; there are no objective beliefs and values. Each person is his or her sovereign.
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Relativism
What is relativism? The main ideas
1. There is no over-arching system to which one can appeal for determining what is good or bad, true or false. There are no external standards for determining goodness & truth.
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Relativism
2. All truth and value claims are relative to either personal choice or culture. Thus all standards for assessing truth and goodness are internal to a system or framework.
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Relativism
Different types of relativismBased on level or size
•1. Individual - what is good & true & beautiful is a matter of individual choice
•2. Cultural - what is good & true & beautiful is defined by the rules & practices of the culture
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Relativism
Based on area of human ideas & activity
•1. Cognitive•2. Moral•3. Aesthetic
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Relativism
Melchert ~ Who’s To Say? Arguments for cultural relativism -- the
position that “custom is king” (Pindar).1. Diversity
•There does not appear to be a set of universal values & beliefs
•Therefore, there are no objective value & beliefs.
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Relativism
•Critique–1. Could attack the premise that
there is no universality of values –2. Widespread agreement does not
entail objectivity. – E.g., In 17th century,
the majority of people, including scientists, accepted the Ptolemaic theory as true.
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– Treats objectivity & universality as the same; they
are not.
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2. The tolerance argument for cultural relativism
•Relativism enhances tolerance & objectivism leads to intolerance.
•Objections– (1) Relativism may enhance intolerance.– If one set of values & beliefs is equal in
truth value and moral value to any other set, why not impose mine on other people? (Melchert 80)
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Relativism
– (2) 2nd objection - the self-reflexive move. If all values are relative, why place tolerance above other values?
Arguments against relativism in general (vs only cultural relativism)1. Reductio ad absurdum
•The dentist example (Melchert 12)•The Khmer Rouge, Nazis
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2. The self-reflexive move again•If all is relative, then the claim that
relativism is true is itself relative (Melchert 18).
3. Elizabeth argues that relativism “undercuts the motivations” to become better human beings (76).
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Relativism
A final argument against cultural relativism
•Which culture? (27). Most of us belong to several cultures & subcultures.
Alternatives to relativism: alternate 1 - the appeal to science (Michael) Objective means knowledge which is tested
and confirmed by science. Scientism
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Relativism
ObjectionsThe underdetermination of scientific
theoriesFacts are not hard, raw, & cold; all
facts are theory-laden.Science cannot answer questions
about morals & ways of life. Science is a western construction
imposed on the rest of the world (62).
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Relativism
Some repliesWe cannot see facts in anyway
whatsoever. E.g., we cannot see a vase a mosquito. Experience limits the way we cast our frameworks on it.
Science cannot answer questions about morals and ways of living.
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Relativism
It works. Science tells me a plant is poisonous, I avoid it. My doctor gives me drugs to get rid of an infection, the infection goes away.
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Relativism
Alternatives to relativism: alternative 2 - pragmatism (Anita)The historical sources
•Charles Sanders Peirce (1839-1914)•William James (1842-1910)•John Dewey (1859-1952)
The argument•Over time, beliefs and values become
more adequate
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Relativism
•Standards also change, but through trial & error we discover which ones work better. Some standards are better than others.
•More adequate for what & better for what?
–Problem-solving. • Problem-solving for what?
–For the sake of “human flourishing” (71).
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Relativism
•Objection: Ideas of human flourishing vary widely.
•Reply: But there is some commonality among these ideas. What are some commonalities?
Alternatives to relativism: alternative 3 - existentialism (Elizabeth)We may be able to think & argue like a
relativist, but we cannot live as a relativist.
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Relativism
Illustration: raising children