Single Idea 6398

[catalogued under 13. Knowledge Criteria / E. Relativism / 6. Relativism Critique]

Full Idea

Different points of view make sense, but only if there is a common co-ordinate system on which to plot them.

Gist of Idea

Different points of view make sense, but they must be plotted on a common background

Source

Donald Davidson (The Very Idea of a Conceptual Scheme [1974], p.184)

Book Reference

Davidson,Donald: 'Inquiries into Truth and Interpretation (2nd ed)' [OUP 2001], p.184


A Reaction

This seems right to me. I am very struck by the close similarities between people from wildly differing cultural backgrounds, as seen, for example, at the Olympic Games.