The former view is relativism, the latter is absolutism, in the matter of truth.
Jefferson's relativism is even more clearly marked in the last chapter, which forms the real conclusion of the book.
If this one exception is granted, the whole illusory universe of relativism is overthrown.
The inevitable consequence is that we imprison ourselves hopelessly in the affirmation of Kantian relativism.
1865, in philosophy, from relative (adj.) + -ism. Cf. relativist.
The doctrine that no ideas or beliefs are universally true but that all are, instead, “relative” — that is, their validity depends on the circumstances in which they are applied.
