Doubt Quote by Nancy Pearcey
““People are not relativistic when it comes to matters of science, engineering, and technology; rather, they are relativistic and pluralistic in matters of religion and ethics.” 37 In short, they apply their postmodern skepticism selectively””
About This Quote
People tend to apply relativistic, pluralistic thinking to religion and ethics, yet hold absolute standards for science, engineering, and technology.
In simple terms: Science is absolute; religion/ethics are seen as relative.
Key Takeaway
Selective relativism.
Themes
philosophy of science
religion
ethics
relativism
Mood
analytical
skeptical
Type
philosophical critique
cultural observation
When to use this quote
- debates on climate change policy
- discussions on AI ethics
- religious freedom lawsuits
- public trust in scientific institutions
- media framing of scientific vs. moral issues
Key Concepts
epistemology
postmodern critique
Practical Applications
- Encourage critical thinking that applies consistent standards across domains
- Facilitate dialogues that expose hidden biases
Questions to Reflect On
- Why do we treat scientific claims differently from moral claims?
- Can a unified epistemic framework reconcile these differences?
A Different Perspective
Some argue that scientific knowledge itself is provisional and thus inherently relativistic, challenging the claim of absolute certainty.
![“For [Louis] Brandeis, you know, ethnicity and background are much less important than facts and reason. And he believes that far from wanting to efface our diversity of perspectives, we have to embrace it because that makes us more American, not less. In that sense, he's incredibly modern in an…” quote by Jeffrey Rosen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/8db/jeffrey-rosen-13180_age_for-louis-brandeis-you-know-ethnicity-an_755034.jpg)
