relativize
Put in perspective
To relativize something is to make it relative rather than absolute—to show that its meaning, truth, or value depends on context, perspective, or frame of reference.
Philosophers relativize moral claims by arguing they vary across cultures.
Scientists relativize measurements by specifying the observer's position.
The word appears mostly in academic discourse: Postmodernism relativizes knowledge claims, Einstein relativized the concept of simultaneity.
Supporting outer structure
- situatePlace in position
- referenceDirecting attention elsewhere
- backgroundOne's formative experiences
- circumstanceCondition affecting an event
setting · conditions · embed · position · juxtaposition · interrelation · localize · ground
Theory of knowledge
- postmodernismSkepticism toward universal truths
- constructivismActive knowledge-building theory
- anti-foundationalismDenial of certain foundations
- pragmatismPractical problem-solving philosophy
skepticism · objectivity · absolutism · universalism · contingency · historicism · Gadamer · hermeneutics
Way of seeing things
- standpointPosition for judgment
- subjectivityPersonal viewpoint coloring perception
- lensLight-focusing curved glass
- vantagePosition of advantage
interpretation · angle · outlook · perception · mindset · orientation · paradigm · point-of-view
Standard for comparison
- scaleMeasure of relative size
- spectrumContinuous range of values
- proportionalScaled to match another
- differentialRelative difference between things
ratio · calibrate · normalize · standardize · baseline · comparative · gradation · degree
Belief one's culture superior
- anthropologyStudy of human cultures
- multiculturalismCoexistence of diverse traditions
- worldviewComprehensive belief framework
- normsExpected behavioral standards
values · customs · traditions · sociocultural · acculturation · cross-cultural
frame
Supporting outer structure
- situatePlace in position
- referenceDirecting attention elsewhere
- backgroundOne's formative experiences
circumstance · setting · conditions · embed · position · juxtaposition · interrelation · localize · ground · anchor
epistemology
Theory of knowledge
- postmodernismSkepticism toward universal truths
- constructivismActive knowledge-building theory
- anti-foundationalismDenial of certain foundations
pragmatism · skepticism · objectivity · absolutism · universalism · contingency · historicism · Gadamer · hermeneutics
viewpoint
Way of seeing things
- standpointPosition for judgment
- subjectivityPersonal viewpoint coloring perception
- lensLight-focusing curved glass
vantage · interpretation · angle · outlook · perception · mindset · orientation · paradigm · point-of-view · bias
benchmark
Standard for comparison
- scaleMeasure of relative size
- spectrumContinuous range of values
- proportionalScaled to match another
differential · ratio · calibrate · normalize · standardize · baseline · comparative · gradation · degree
ethnocentrism
Belief one's culture superior
- anthropologyStudy of human cultures
- multiculturalismCoexistence of diverse traditions
- worldviewComprehensive belief framework
norms · values · customs · traditions · sociocultural · acculturation · cross-cultural
relativizeabsolutize
Make into absolute truth
universalize · essentialize · reify · objectify · dogmatize
relativizeabsolutize
Make into absolute truth
emphasize · foreground · magnify · prioritize · privilege
- 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