Catalina's Peril from Extreme Relativism
In the realm of philosophical discourse, a contentious issue has arisen: the question of whether everything is relative and subjective, with no objectivity. This extreme form of relativism, a dominant mentality of our era, has been challenged by philosophers throughout history, most notably by Immanuel Kant and St. Thomas Aquinas.
The statement, "Everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact. Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth," is a familiar sentiment, often encountered on social media platforms like Facebook. However, a critical analysis of this statement reveals internal incoherence and philosophical untenability.
If the statement claims that "everything" is not a fact or the truth, it also includes itself in that claim, making it a self-including statement. As such, it cannot be taken as an absolute truth, but rather as an opinion.
The post on Facebook also echoes the saying, "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder," a familiar phrase in the realm of art that expresses relativism. Yet, this perspective is countered by the philosophical view held by thinkers like Aquinas and Kant, who argue for the existence of a reality outside the mind and the attainment of epistemological truth when the mind conforms with this external reality.
According to St. Thomas Aquinas, knowledge occurs by the intellect receiving the "form" or essence of external objects without their matter, thus achieving a likeness between the intellect and the object known. This reflects Aquinas's adaptation of Aristotelian epistemology, emphasizing the correspondence between the mind's idea and external reality.
In contrast, Immanuel Kant offers his own view on the criterion of truth, as can be gleaned from his "Copernican revolution in philosophy." Kant's theory suggests that truth is not found in the objects themselves, but in the mind's ability to synthesize and structure the perceptions of those objects.
The opposing view to relativism on the criterion of truth is also rooted in the Bible. John 1:3 states, "Through him [God] all things came into being, and apart from him nothing came to be." This passage implies the existence of an objective reality called God, which contradicts the notion that everything is subjective and relative.
It is important to note that Protagoras, a Greek philosopher, is credited as the first to espouse relativism with his statement, "Man is the measure of all things." However, the philosophical untenability of extreme relativism has been a topic of debate for centuries, with many arguing that it leads to a lack of moral and epistemological certainty.
In conclusion, while extreme relativism may be a dominant mentality of our era, it is philosophically untenable. The existence of an objective reality and the attainment of epistemological truth require us to acknowledge the correspondence between our minds and the world outside of us. As such, we must strive to seek truth, not just opinions, in our understanding of the world.
