Ramakanta Bal

Truth, Objectivity and the World: a Critical Study of the Relativism-absolutism Controversy Ramakanta Bal

The controversy between relativism and absolutism should lead to proper philosophical understanding instead of being the endless battleground for competing and shifting opinions. Because of this confusion and uncertainty, our social, cultural and intellectual life is very much affected. There is always an attempt to secure the foundations of entire range of human and social sciences. The elaboration of new methods promises genuine knowledge. There seems to be a rush to embrace various forms of relativism. As Bernstein says, when we reflect on the nature of science, alien societies, or different historical epochs or sacred literary texts, we hear voices telling us that there are no hard ?facts of the matter? and that almost ?anything goes?.