Relativism

Even the thinker who tried to be funny and thought to explain relativism with Humpty Dumpty fairytales did’t seem to grasp the notions used in Closed Circle Theory by Wittgenstein and that later lead to the introduction of the notion ‘paradigm’ by Thomas Kuhn.

But he highlights some common misconceptions.

First misconception (you could call it a relative truth).

- relativism is NOT about preferences

Preferences explain differences between members that use the same way of thinking. They can hardly be called essential, and handle things like: “My favorite color is red”.

When I use a word , Humpty Dumpty said in rather a scornful tone, it means just what I choose it to mean ---neither more nor less.

Humpty Dumpty can use whatever kind of voice he prefers, but maybe can explain what he means when he uses he word ‘democracy’. Or does he think there is only 1 interpretation? And if that is too difficult, take the saying "I'm feeling cold". Maybe Eskimo's might think elsewhise.

Because preferences are not making any difference as to what you think, ‘nobody’ worries about favorite colors are taste. Neither does in essence your language, though languages often mirror system of thought (cultures)

Second misconception:

- Being relativist does NOT mean hiding after an immunity for criticism.

It only means relativists do not SEEK discussion, but try to invent new concepts for communication. To convince even the most hardheaded members of the closed circle ‘Western Rationalism’ (and included the circle ‘Modern Empiricism’)

Even the scientist who misused poor Humpty Dumpty to make his point can be sure that his criticism is respected by a true relativist. But that does NOT mean that it is accepted

Criticists of Relativism thinks that criticism can hide after admitting that it has been wrong. Off course any criticism might be wrong, but then it is presumed that it did a considerable effort (other than dropping bombs) to find a greater truth.  Accepting to be corrected is not enough: sorry blacks are not more stupid than whites, I must have been wrong. That way you take the right to think and say anything you want. That might be part of U.S law, but that is no guarantee that it is to be preferred.

Go to this site for a serious treatment of Relativism

In case you have a question just send me an e-mail .