more from Hilary Putnam

Single Idea 7620

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

Full Idea

What the relativist fails to see is that it is a presupposition of thought itself that some kind of objective 'rightness' exists.

Gist of Idea

Some kind of objective 'rightness' is a presupposition of thought itself

Source

Hilary Putnam (Reason, Truth and History [1981], Ch.5)

Book Reference

Putnam,Hilary: 'Reason, Truth and History' [CUP 1998], p.124


A Reaction

This may be the key objection to relativism. If you have a frame of reference, is it a good one? If you have a new perspective, is it better than your old one? Is the culture you live in confused or clear-thinking? Jokes and metaphors rely on truth.