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Features

January 2009

Truth vs. equality

by Christie Davies

On the relativist threat to science (from "The Dictatorship of Relativism.")

Relativism is a key weapon of those who seek to undermine Western civilization and its distinctive culture, one which embodies crucial values, its morality based on individual responsibility, and its strong respect for those who seek objective truth.

Relativists often have a particular dislike of science. Generally, if one employs data or arguments derived from scientific inquiry that they can not rebut, they will reply in their cant phrase: “We must not privilege science.” Their choice of the word “privilege” already gives the game away. For the relativists there is no truth, only a series of stories about the world which are all equally valid and from which they can choose without ever having to justify their choice. Likewise, there are moral relativists who reject the traditional moral norms of Western society and deny that transgressions against them can be unequivocally condemned. Finally, there are cultu ...

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Christie Davies's most recent book is Jokes and Targets (Indiana).


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This article originally appeared in The New Criterion, Volume 27 January 2009, on page 19

Copyright © 2013 The New Criterion | www.newcriterion.com

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