Relativism

Relativism is the theory that "truth and moral values are not absolute but are [pertinent] to the persons or groups holding them" (American Heritage Dictionary, 3rd Edition). The idea of relativism is a core concept of 20th century modernism. At the turn of the century, it was a new idea, just gaining coinage. It followed on the crisis of faith that had occurred during the nineteenth century, spurred on by Darwin's discoveries. Relativism suggests that rather than seek an overarching, absolute truth, such as that previously held forth by the Church, each person might in his or her own conscious discover a relevant truth. At the end of the nineteenth century, philosophers like Matthew Arnold theorized that the way to make the conscious "worthy" of such responsibility was to cultivate genius, to fill the mind with "the best that has been known and said in the world" (as...