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  Professor David Bloor, Science Studies, School of Social and Political Science, University of Edinburgh:
Philipp Frank and the Definition of Relativism Relativism
is
a
topic
that
causes
much dispute. I shall offer a defence of
relativism using the definition adopted by the physicist Philipp Frank,
namely, that relativism is best defined as the
rejection of absolutism. The rejection of absolutism is a
necessary
and a sufficient condition for relativism. Many philosophers are
deeply hostile to relativism but claim that they are free to adopt a position
that
is
neither
relativist
nor
absolutist. I shall examine some
of
the
results
of
this
claim, and identify the definitions of
relativism that lie behind it. I shall argue that the alleged
middle ground,
or
third
way,
between
relativism
and absolutism is untenable and
confused.
tirsdag den 11. oktober 2011, kl. 17 |
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