Single Idea 1578

[catalogued under 19. Language / F. Communication / 1. Rhetoric]

Full Idea

If relativism offers an accurate description of human values, then rhetoric replaces logos as the most fundamental human activity.

Gist of Idea

If relativism is the correct account of human values, then rhetoric is more important than reasoning

Source

David Roochnik (The Tragedy of Reason [1990], p.47)

Book Reference

Roochnik,David: 'The Tragedy of Reason: the Platonic logos' [Routledge 1990], p.47


A Reaction

Or putting it another way, logos (reason) becomes meaningless. I suppose, though, that a relativist can conduct conditional reasoning (but must belief in some rules of reason).