relativist
Truth varies, they'd say
A relativist holds that truth, morality, or values depend on context rather than being absolute.
Moral relativists argue that ethical standards vary across cultures; epistemological relativists question whether objective knowledge exists.
The term often carries a dismissive edge: He's such a relativist—he won't commit to anything.
The adjective relativistic describes this stance.
Theory of knowledge
- pluralismCoexistence of differing views
- postmodernismSkepticism toward universal truths
- skepticismDisposition toward doubt
- anti-foundationalismDenial of certain foundations
constructivism · hermeneutics · nihilism · pragmatism · Foucault · historicism · antirealism · relativize
Way of seeing things
- standpointPosition for judgment
- stanceStanding posture or viewpoint
- outlookAttitude toward the future
- lensLight-focusing curved glass
framework · interpretation · angle · vantage · paradigm · orientation · perception · worldview
Study of right conduct
- valuesPrinciples held worthwhile
- judgmentReasoned decision-making capacity
- situationalDependent on circumstances
- contextualRelative to surrounding conditions
subjective · normative · good-evil · conscience · principles · standards · tolerance · prescriptivism
Study of human cultures
- ethnographySystematic study of peoples
- ethnocentrismBelief one's culture superior
- multiculturalismCoexistence of diverse traditions
- diversityState of varied elements
customs · traditions · norms · values · folkways · worldview · sociocultural · acculturation
System of symbolic communication
- meaningWhat something signifies
- translationConverting between languages
- semanticsStudy of linguistic meaning
- untranslatabilityResistance to linguistic conversion
lexicon · categorization · thought · cognition · vocabulary · grammar
epistemology
Theory of knowledge
- pluralismCoexistence of differing views
- postmodernismSkepticism toward universal truths
- skepticismDisposition toward doubt
anti-foundationalism · constructivism · hermeneutics · nihilism · pragmatism · Foucault · historicism · antirealism · relativize · objectivity
viewpoint
Way of seeing things
- standpointPosition for judgment
- stanceStanding posture or viewpoint
- outlookAttitude toward the future
lens · framework · interpretation · angle · vantage · paradigm · orientation · perception · worldview · mindset
ethics
Study of right conduct
- valuesPrinciples held worthwhile
- judgmentReasoned decision-making capacity
- situationalDependent on circumstances
contextual · subjective · normative · good-evil · conscience · principles · standards · tolerance · prescriptivism · ought
anthropology
Study of human cultures
- ethnographySystematic study of peoples
- ethnocentrismBelief one's culture superior
- multiculturalismCoexistence of diverse traditions
diversity · customs · traditions · norms · values · folkways · worldview · sociocultural · acculturation · cross-cultural
language
System of symbolic communication
- meaningWhat something signifies
- translationConverting between languages
- semanticsStudy of linguistic meaning
untranslatability · lexicon · categorization · thought · cognition · vocabulary · grammar
- thinkersthinkers, thinker, philosophers, philosopher, Aristotle
- philosophersAristotle, Plato, Socrates, Kant, Descartes
- multiculturalismmulticultural, multiethnic, ethnic diversity, diverse, pluralism
- political labelsliberal, conservative, leftist, rightist, moderate
- theoristspolitical theorist, game theorist, music theorist, conspiracy theorist
relativistabsolutist
One allowing no exceptions
objectivist · universalist · dogmatist · essentialist · realist
relativistabsolutist
One allowing no exceptions
positivist · empiricist · objectivist · dogmatist · literalist
relativistdogmatist
One holding fixed beliefs
fundamentalist · doctrinaire · ideologue · true believer · zealot
- theory of relativityPhysics of spacetime and gravity
- general relativityGravity as curved spacetime
- special relativityTheory uniting space, time
- relativity theoryPhysics of spacetime and gravity
- moral relativismValues vary by context
- theories of relativitySpacetime and gravity unified