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relativism

[rel-uh-tuh-viz-uh m]
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noun Philosophy.
  1. any theory holding that criteria of judgment are relative, varying with individuals and their environments.

Origin of relativism

First recorded in 1860–65; relative + -ism
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for relativism

Historical Examples

  • The former view is relativism, the latter is absolutism, in the matter of truth.

    Pragmatism

    D.L. Murray

  • Jefferson's relativism is even more clearly marked in the last chapter, which forms the real conclusion of the book.

    Thomas Jefferson

    Gilbert Chinard

  • If this one exception is granted, the whole illusory universe of relativism is overthrown.

    Outspoken Essays

    William Ralph Inge

  • The inevitable consequence is that we imprison ourselves hopelessly in the affirmation of Kantian relativism.

British Dictionary definitions for relativism

relativism

noun
  1. any theory holding that truth or moral or aesthetic value, etc, is not universal or absolute but may differ between individuals or culturesSee also historicism
Derived Formsrelativist, noun, adjective
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for relativism

n.

1865, in philosophy, from relative (adj.) + -ism. Cf. relativist.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
relativism in Culture

relativism

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.

The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.