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13. Knowledge Criteria / E. Relativism / 6. Relativism Critique

[criticism of the idea that there are only points of view]

19 ideas
God is "the measure of all things", more than any man [Plato on Protagoras]
Protagoras absurdly thought that the knowing or perceiving man is 'the measure of all things' [Aristotle on Protagoras]
Relativists think if you poke your eye and see double, there must be two things [Aristotle on Protagoras]
Do the gods also hold different opinions about what is right and honourable? [Plato]
If you claim that all beliefs are true, that includes beliefs opposed to your own [Plato]
Clearly some people are superior to others when it comes to medicine [Plato]
How can a relativist form opinions about what will happen in the future? [Plato]
How can we state relativism of sweet and sour, if they have no determinate nature? [Theophrastus]
If the majority had diseased taste, and only a few were healthy, relativists would have to prefer the former [Aristotle]
Some kind of objective 'rightness' is a presupposition of thought itself [Putnam]
Different points of view make sense, but they must be plotted on a common background [Davidson]
Our ability to react to an alien culture shows that ethical thought extends beyond cultural boundaries [Williams,B]
It is very confused to deduce a nonrelativist morality of universal toleration from relativism [Williams,B]
Not every person is the measure of all things, but only wise people [Plato on Kim]
Why didn't Protagoras begin by saying "a tadpole is the measure of all things"? [Plato on Kim]
Defeat relativism by emphasising truth and reference, not meaning [Newton-Smith]
Relativism is a disease which destroys the possibility of rational debate [Roochnik]
Why should you believe someone who says there are no truths? [Scruton]
If the world is just texts or social constructs, what are texts and social constructs? [Heil]