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Relativists

Last updated: February 1, 2017

What Does Relativists Mean?

Relativists are those who believe that there is no absolute truth, especially when dealing with moral issues. Belief in relativism involves holding the opinion that many people have many different opinions on what is morally acceptable and what is not and why, and that no opinion is necessarily better than the other. Relativistic beliefs are considered by many to encourage tolerance and respect, but others believe they can cause permissiveness.

Safeopedia Explains Relativists

Moral relativism holds the view that truth is only truth when viewed from a particular standpoint, such as that of a culture or historical period. Relativistic views of moral issues can be traced back to the 5th century in Greece and have remained somewhat dormant since then until the 19th and 20th centuries. A number of factors made relativism seem plausible at the time, such as the declining importance of religion and a greater appreciation for cultural diversity.

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