Relative
['re-l&-tiv] adjective
1 : introducing a subordinate clause qualifying an expressed or
implied antecedent
3 : not absolute or independent : COMPARATIVE
rel•a•tiv•ism
noun
1 a : a theory that knowledge is relative to the limited nature
of the mind and the conditions of knowing
b : a view that ethical truths depend on the individuals and groups
holding them
(Source:
Websters Dictionary)
Relativism
(philosophy)
Relativism consists of various theories each of which claims that
some element or aspect of experience or culture is relative to,
i.e., dependent on, some other element or aspect. For example,
some relativists claim that humans can understand and evaluate
beliefs and behaviors only in terms of their historical or cultural
context. The term often refers to truth relativism, which is the
doctrine that there are no absolute truths, i.e., that truth is
always relative to some particular frame of reference, such as
a language or a culture.
Moral
relativism is the position that moral or ethical propositions
do not reflect objective and/or universal moral truths, but instead
make claims relative to social, cultural, historical or personal
circumstances. Moral relativists hold that no universal standard
exists by which to assess an ethical proposition's truth. Relativistic
positions often see moral values as applicable only within certain
cultural boundaries or in the context of individual preferences.
An extreme relativist position might suggest that judging the
moral or ethical judgments or acts of another person or group
has no meaning, though most relativists propound a more limited
version of the theory.
Some moral
relativists — for example, the existentialist Jean-Paul
Sartre — hold that a personal and subjective moral core
lies or ought to lie at the base of individuals' moral acts. In
this view public morality reflects social convention, and only
personal, subjective morality expresses true authenticity.
In popular
culture people often describe themselves as "morally relativist,"
meaning that they are accepting of other people's values and agree
that there is no one "right" way of doing some things.
However, this actually has little to do with the philosophical
idea of relativism; relativism does not necessarily imply tolerance,
just as moral objectivism does not imply intolerance. These people's
moral outlook can be explained from both theoretical frameworks.
(Source:
Wikipedia)

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