Buddhism Quote by Ted Cabal
““Relativism is self-contradictory. If someone claims to be a relativist, don't believe it. A relativist will say that your belief is true for you but his is true for him; there is no objective truth that applies to all people. The only problem is that this statement itself is an objective truth that applies to all people! (Even when he says, "That's true for you but not for me," he believes his view applies to more than just one person!) To show the self-contradictory nature of relativism, we can simply preface relativistic assertions this way: "It's objectively true that 'That's true for you but not for me' " or "It's true that 'There is no truth.' " The bold contradiction becomes apparent. Or what of the line that sincere belief makes something (Buddhism, Marxism, Christianity) true? We must ask, is this principle universal and absolute?””
About This Quote
Relativism claims all truth is subjective, yet asserts its own truth, creating a logical contradiction.
In simple terms: Relativism is self‑contradictory.
Key Takeaway
Recognize hidden assumptions about truth.
Themes
philosophy
logic
truth
relativism
contradiction
Mood
thoughtful
critical
inquisitive
Type
philosophical
argumentative
When to use this quote
- debates on morality
- academic discussions
- political discourse
Key Concepts
subjectivity
objective truth
self‑reference
Questions to Reflect On
- Is any claim truly objective?
- How do we handle conflicting truths?
A Different Perspective
Relativism can be useful for tolerance but may hinder universal rights.
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