Asking Quote by Allan Bloom
“Historicism and cultural relativism actually are a means to avoid testing our own prejudices and asking, for example, whether men are really equal or whether that opinion is merely a democratic prejudice.”
About This Quote
Source Book: 'The Closing of the American Mind', Allan Bloom, 1987
Bloom argues that historicism and cultural relativism serve as excuses to avoid confronting personal biases, especially regarding gender equality and democratic prejudice.
In simple terms: Historicism and relativism hide personal bias, preventing honest debate on equality.
Key Takeaway
Challenge assumptions by testing them against universal standards.
Themes
philosophy
ethics
gender
democracy
bias
Mood
critical
reflective
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- academic curricula
- public debates
- policy formulation
- personal introspection
Key Concepts
critical thinking
universalism
skepticism
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we balance universal rights with cultural specificity?
- What methods reveal hidden biases effectively?
A Different Perspective
The quote may discount the value of contextual understanding in evaluating cultural practices.
![“[Cultural relativism] licenses the envy of the untalented, giving rise to what has been called the revenge of failure: Those who cannot paint destroy the canons of painting; those who cannot write reject canonical literature.” quote by George Will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/10e/george-will-1177_books_cultural-relativism-licenses-the-envy-of_246138.jpg)
