English

Noun

cognitive relativism ‎(uncountable)

1. (philosophy, sociology) The view that the cognitive styles or habits of perception, reasoning, judgment, and knowledge of the world are not absolute, but are relative to historical eras and to various cultures.
   • 1996, Catherine Grisé, The Optics of Relativism in the Fables of La Fontaine, in Anne Lynn Birberick (editor), Refiguring la Fontaine: Tercentenary Studies, page 127:

     Cognitive relativism, as it is presented in the Fables, is simply a recognition that knowledge is dependent on the conditions and the instruments of knowing, some of which are more reliable than others. La Fontaine's approach to cognitive relativism is descriptive and monitory.

   • 2001, Jean Bricmont, Alan Sokal, Chapter 3: Science and Sociology of Science: Beyond War and Peace, in Jay A. Labinger, Harry M. Collins (editors), One Culture?: A Conversation about Science, page 38:

     Our main thesis is that cognitive relativism is a position that no scientist (in either the natural or the social sciences) should wish to embrace, and that methodological relativism makes sense only if one adheres to cognitive relativism.

   • 2003, Shelby D. Hunt, Controversy in Marketing Theory: For Reason, Realism, Truth, and Objectivity, page 102:

     Whereas moral relativism deals with matters of value, cognitive relativism deals with matters of fact (although sharp distinctions may at times be difficult to make) (Hollis and Lukes 1982, p. 2).

Synonyms

• factual relativism