The History of Relativism

Description: This quiz covers the history of relativism, a philosophical theory that claims that truth and morality are relative to the individual or culture.
Number of Questions: 15
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Tags: philosophy epistemology relativism
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Who is considered the father of relativism?

  1. Protagoras

  2. Socrates

  3. Plato

  4. Aristotle


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Protagoras, a Greek philosopher who lived in the 5th century BC, is often credited with being the first to articulate the idea of relativism.

What is the basic tenet of relativism?

  1. Truth and morality are absolute and unchanging.

  2. Truth and morality are relative to the individual or culture.

  3. Truth and morality are determined by God.

  4. Truth and morality are unknowable.


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

Relativists argue that there is no one objective truth or morality that applies to everyone, but rather that what is true or moral for one person or culture may not be true or moral for another.

Which of the following is an example of cultural relativism?

  1. Believing that it is wrong to steal.

  2. Believing that it is always wrong to lie.

  3. Believing that it is acceptable to eat pork.

  4. Believing that it is wrong to kill animals.


Correct Option: C
Explanation:

Cultural relativism is the idea that the beliefs and values of a culture are relative to that culture and should not be judged by the standards of another culture. In some cultures, it is considered acceptable to eat pork, while in other cultures it is considered taboo.

Which of the following is an example of moral relativism?

  1. Believing that it is wrong to steal.

  2. Believing that it is always wrong to lie.

  3. Believing that it is acceptable to eat pork.

  4. Believing that it is wrong to kill animals.


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

Moral relativism is the idea that there is no one objective morality that applies to everyone, but rather that what is moral for one person or culture may not be moral for another. For example, some people believe that it is always wrong to lie, while others believe that it is sometimes acceptable to lie in order to avoid causing harm.

Which of the following is a criticism of relativism?

  1. It is too subjective.

  2. It is too vague.

  3. It is too nihilistic.

  4. All of the above.


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Critics of relativism argue that it is too subjective, too vague, and too nihilistic. They argue that it is impossible to know what is true or moral if there is no objective standard of truth or morality. They also argue that relativism leads to nihilism, the belief that there is no meaning or purpose in life.

Which of the following philosophers is NOT a relativist?

  1. Protagoras

  2. Socrates

  3. Plato

  4. Aristotle


Correct Option: C
Explanation:

Plato is not a relativist because he believes that there is an objective truth and morality that exists independently of the individual or culture.

Which of the following philosophers is a moral relativist?

  1. Protagoras

  2. Socrates

  3. Plato

  4. Aristotle


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Protagoras is a moral relativist because he believes that there is no one objective morality that applies to everyone, but rather that what is moral for one person or culture may not be moral for another.

Which of the following philosophers is a cultural relativist?

  1. Protagoras

  2. Socrates

  3. Plato

  4. Aristotle


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Protagoras is a cultural relativist because he believes that the beliefs and values of a culture are relative to that culture and should not be judged by the standards of another culture.

Which of the following is an example of epistemological relativism?

  1. Believing that there is no one objective truth.

  2. Believing that truth is relative to the individual.

  3. Believing that truth is relative to the culture.

  4. All of the above.


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Epistemological relativism is the idea that there is no one objective truth, but rather that truth is relative to the individual, the culture, or some other factor.

Which of the following is a criticism of epistemological relativism?

  1. It is too subjective.

  2. It is too vague.

  3. It is too nihilistic.

  4. All of the above.


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Critics of epistemological relativism argue that it is too subjective, too vague, and too nihilistic. They argue that it is impossible to know what is true if there is no objective standard of truth. They also argue that epistemological relativism leads to nihilism, the belief that there is no meaning or purpose in life.

Which of the following philosophers is an epistemological relativist?

  1. Protagoras

  2. Socrates

  3. Plato

  4. Aristotle


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Protagoras is an epistemological relativist because he believes that there is no one objective truth, but rather that truth is relative to the individual.

Which of the following philosophers is a cultural epistemological relativist?

  1. Protagoras

  2. Socrates

  3. Plato

  4. Aristotle


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Protagoras is a cultural epistemological relativist because he believes that truth is relative to the culture.

Which of the following philosophers is a moral epistemological relativist?

  1. Protagoras

  2. Socrates

  3. Plato

  4. Aristotle


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Protagoras is a moral epistemological relativist because he believes that truth is relative to the individual and the culture.

Which of the following is an example of metaphysical relativism?

  1. Believing that there is no one objective reality.

  2. Believing that reality is relative to the individual.

  3. Believing that reality is relative to the culture.

  4. All of the above.


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Metaphysical relativism is the idea that there is no one objective reality, but rather that reality is relative to the individual, the culture, or some other factor.

Which of the following is a criticism of metaphysical relativism?

  1. It is too subjective.

  2. It is too vague.

  3. It is too nihilistic.

  4. All of the above.


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Critics of metaphysical relativism argue that it is too subjective, too vague, and too nihilistic. They argue that it is impossible to know what is real if there is no objective standard of reality. They also argue that metaphysical relativism leads to nihilism, the belief that there is no meaning or purpose in life.

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