Martin Kusch: Relativism (1/5)

Summary

In this lecture, Martin Kusch, a Professor of Philosophy of Science and Theory of Knowledge at the University of Vienna, introduces the concept of relativism, particularly within the study of science. He explains that relativism, though commonly understood, has many interpretations. Using ethics as an example, Kusch outlines how different cultures have varying moral principles, leading to differing judgments that are relative to each culture’s moral framework. He emphasizes that no universal way exists to rank these judgments as right or wrong, setting the stage for exploring relativism across other domains like knowledge, aesthetics, and religion.

Takeaways

• 😀 Relativism in philosophy has many interpretations, and its meaning can vary widely depending on the context and domain.
• 😀 A philosopher once identified over 80 different interpretations of 'realism' in moral and knowledge contexts, suggesting that relativism may similarly have numerous interpretations.
• 😀 Relativism can be approached through various domains, including ethics, where different cultures hold distinct moral principles.
• 😀 One key idea of relativism is that moral principles and judgments differ systematically across cultures, with no universal standard to rank them as more or less justified.
• 😀 A core tenet of relativism is that no culture’s moral or ethical beliefs can be objectively ranked as better or worse than another’s.
• 😀 Relativism posits that different moral conceptions in different cultures are equally justified or unjustified, making them difficult to compare or evaluate in absolute terms.
• 😀 The same relativist approach can be applied across different domains like aesthetics, knowledge, science, and religion, where judgments also vary based on cultural or individual perspectives.
• 😀 Relativism in one domain does not necessarily imply relativism in another. For instance, one might be a relativist about moral judgments but not about epistemic (knowledge-related) judgments.
• 😀 People often express relativist sentiments in domains like taste, where subjective judgments—such as personal preferences for art or beauty—are widely accepted as equally valid.
• 😀 The phrase 'beauty is in the eye of the beholder' exemplifies relativism in aesthetic judgments, where different people have varied standards for evaluating art or beauty.

Q & A

What is relativism in philosophy?

Relativism in philosophy is the view that judgments in various domains, such as morality, aesthetics, and knowledge, are influenced by cultural or contextual factors and there is no universal standard to rank them as more or less correct.

What example does the professor use to explain relativism?

The professor uses the example of moral judgments across cultures, highlighting that different cultures have varying ethical standards, such as the acceptability of practices like killing and cannibalism, which might be considered extreme or abhorrent in other cultures.

How does the professor define the structure of a relativist position in morality?

The structure of relativism in morality consists of three main ideas: (1) moral beliefs differ across cultures, (2) these differences are systematic, with different cultures having distinct conceptions of morality, and (3) there is no way to objectively rank cultures' moral conceptions as right or wrong.

What does the professor mean by 'no neutral way of ordering' moral judgments?

The professor suggests that, according to relativism, when cultures differ in moral conceptions, there is no neutral or universal standard to determine which conception is objectively right or wrong. All moral conceptions can be seen as equally justified or unjustified.

Can someone be a relativist in one domain but not another?

Yes, someone can be a relativist in one domain, such as morality, but not in another, such as epistemic judgments (which concern knowledge or justification). This shows that relativism can be selectively applied across different areas of judgment.

How does relativism apply to aesthetics, according to the professor?

In aesthetics, relativism suggests that different people or cultures may have different standards of what makes a painting or artwork 'good' or 'bad.' There is no definitive or universal way to determine which judgment is objectively right, reflecting the idea that 'beauty is in the eyes of the beholder.'

What is an example the professor gives to illustrate relativism in the domain of taste?

An example the professor provides is how people can have differing opinions about what constitutes a good painting. This difference in judgment about art is an expression of relativism, where no universal standard exists to rank one opinion as more correct than another.

Why does the professor claim that relativism is more easily seen in moral judgments than in other domains?

The professor believes relativism is easier to see in moral judgments because there are clear, observable differences in how cultures approach issues like ethics and morality, such as varying views on life and death practices or societal norms.

What does relativism suggest about moral judgments in different cultures?

Relativism suggests that moral judgments in different cultures are influenced by the respective cultural backgrounds and cannot be objectively ranked. What one culture views as morally acceptable may be seen as wrong by another, and both perspectives can be considered equally valid from a relativist viewpoint.

How does relativism challenge the idea of objective truth in moral or epistemic judgments?

Relativism challenges the notion of objective truth by arguing that judgments, whether moral or epistemic, are influenced by cultural or contextual factors, making it impossible to determine one universally correct or justified standard across all cultures or situations.