Relativism

A major theme in Piers Anthony's novel For Love of Evil is the philosophical concept or relativism, or the idea that there is no such thing as an absolute, that questions of morality are not right or wrong, but often are blended in various shades of gray. This occurs and is presented in two ways: action and irony.

Relativism in action is presented by the case of Parry's attempt to reform Hell, making things more efficient. Parry meets a woman who has been condemned to Hell for stealing. Yet upon speaking to her, Parry discovers that the woman had only stolen in order to feed her hungry family. This strikes Parry as wrong. Although the woman may have stolen, which is an evil act, the evil act was done with good intentions. The act assumes a very utilitarian philosophical view, that the ends justify the means sometimes.

Relativism...