Relativism and the Limits of Conversability

Abstract

In Chapter 3, we concluded that divergent belief-systems are a genuine possibility and that this presents us with a serious epistemological challenge. We argued in Chapter 5 that this challenge can be met, but we did not explore the relativist implications that apparently follow in any detail. We need to do this, however, if only to assure ourselves that our version of relativism does not suffer from the serious difficulties associated, rightly or wrongly, with other versions. This is the task of this chapter.