What is Relativism?

Relativism (rel-a-tiv-ism) is “a theory…that conceptions of truth and moral values are not absolute but are relative to the persons or groups holding them”

Refuting Relativism: Self-Refuting

For someone to say, “All truth is relative,” is the same as someone saying, “I am a liar.”  Why?  Both of these statements are self-contradictory.  In other words, if the statement implies its falsehood then that statement is self-refuting. 

For instance, if I say, “I am a liar,” this statement must be a lie, which means; “I am not a liar.” 

There are many examples of self-refuting statements, such as:

Truth does not exist (Is that a true statement?)

Nothing is absolute (Is that absolutely true?)

I do not exist (You must exist to deny that you exist)

Nobody can know anything for sure (Do you know that for sure?) (From: Thinking Matters)

Getting back to the relativism.

If all truth is relative this statement would be absolutely true.  Consequently, if this statement is true, then not all things are relative and this statement is false.    

This means that people cannot discredit the truth claims of Christianity on their lives by falsely claiming, “All truth is relative,” for the obvious reason, not all truth is relative.

If you have used this position before to avoid the statement that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life, and that no one can go to heaven accept through Him (John 14.6; Acts 4.12), which was historically validated in space and time with His resurrection from the dead (Acts 17.31; 1 Cor. 15.1-11), then I humbly ask for you to reconsider exploring the claims of Christianity.

Next

What is true for you is not true for me

 

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Tags: ethics, relativism, relativistic fallacy, truth