Author: Gane, Mike

Source: Economy and Society, Volume 35, Number 3, August 2006 , pp. 480-486(7)

Publisher: Routledge, part of the Taylor & Francis Group

Abstract:

This article reviews two recent books, The Poverty of Relativism by Boudon and Relativism by Baghramian. Both works provide accounts of relativist writings and take up anti-relativist positions, Boudon in particular claiming that relativism is now a prime danger to modern culture. This review article suggests that the term relativism remains ill defined and the animus against relativism in these works is driven by a barely disguised hostility to what is seen as the moral weakness of postmodernism. This response to postmodernism's celebration of diversity seems to want to take social theory back to notions of absolute cultural progression.

Keywords: relativism; pluralism; progress; postmodernism

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/03085140600845164

Publication date: 2006-08-01

More about this publication?

• Editorial Board
• Information for Authors
• Subscribe to this Title
• ingentaconnect is not responsible for the content or availability of external websites

Related content

• In this: publication
• By this: publisher
• In this Subject: Economics ,  Social Science (General)
• By this author: Gane, Mike

Website © Publishing Technology. Article copyright remains with the publisher, society or author(s) as specified within the article.

• Terms and conditions
• Privacy policy
• Information for advertisers