Rationality and relativism

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Are there absolute truths that can be gradually approached over time through rational processes? Or are all modes and systems of thought equally valid if viewed from within their own internally consistent frames of refer-ence? Are there universal forms of reasoning and understanding that make it possible for us to distinguisi) between rational beliefs and those that arel demonstrably false, or is everything relative?'
These are the central questions that are addressecl and debated by the distinguished contributurs to this livety booL Emerging from the debate are a variety of 'supportable interprétations and conclusions rather than a single, distinct, "truth". Although ali agree that the undferstanding of another culture, another lahguage, another scientific paradigm must start from within, some are tempted by a relcttivism thót challenges, the very concept of a single worfd, while others are not so Willing to forega the idea that there are ascertainabb;,objective umversals
The... Tovább

Fülszöveg

Are there absolute truths that can be gradually approached over time through rational processes? Or are all modes and systems of thought equally valid if viewed from within their own internally consistent frames of refer-ence? Are there universal forms of reasoning and understanding that make it possible for us to distinguisi) between rational beliefs and those that arel demonstrably false, or is everything relative?'
These are the central questions that are addressecl and debated by the distinguished contributurs to this livety booL Emerging from the debate are a variety of 'supportable interprétations and conclusions rather than a single, distinct, "truth". Although ali agree that the undferstanding of another culture, another lahguage, another scientific paradigm must start from within, some are tempted by a relcttivism thót challenges, the very concept of a single worfd, while others are not so Willing to forega the idea that there are ascertainabb;,objective umversals
The editors point put that although relativism has a long history in social anthropology, onty reeeniiy have "upheavals in the phîlosophy of science turned the historian or sociologtst ai Science into somefhtng of an anthropologîst, 'an explorer oí alien cultures, it ís as if scientific paradigms and theorefîcal frameworks were stryng ©ut in time like islands across an arcipelago." lit fhis spirif, varîous of fhe book's confribuîors find that dragons in Africa,'atams in Mifetus, olchern/ Padua, and aspects modem pnysics a'l «nspf% equally serious philasophical concern. ^
Some of the contri butor s - r talus, tukes, Robin Horton and Ernest- ^^^^ ¦ — discuss- new directions in their thinking sirice their articles în the seminai volume Rar.'ona/iíy (editad by Bryan Wilson) appeated in 1970. 1 hey are now joined in the debate by fan Hacking, W. Newfon-Smti^ Charlestayior, / Jon Elster, Dan Sperber, <jód, ir» .the jointly wrHten iead article, Barry Barnes and David Biapr.
1 Vissza