The book of absolutes a critique of relativism and a defence of universals /

Gairdner, William Douglas (1940-....)

The book of absolutes a critique of relativism and a defence of universals / [Texte imprimé] : William D. Gairdner - Montreal : McGill-Queen's University Press, cop. 2008 - 1 vol. (XVI-398 p.) ; 24 cm

Index

Notes bibliogr.

A brief history of relativism -- The main types of relativism -- Objections to relativism -- The universals of human life and culture -- The constants of nature -- The war over biology: setting the stage -- Hardwired: the universal of human biology, sex, and brain sex -- Universals of law: the natural law and the moral law -- The natural law and the moral law at work in the world -- How language theory changed the (post) modern world -- German philosophy and the relativist revolt against Western civilization -- The sacred text: the French Nietzsche and the French Heidegger -- Po-mo and the return to absolutes -- The universals of language -- A postscript, with a word about universals of literature, myth, and symbol -- Appendix: some universals and constants of nature and human nature

9780773534131 077353413X

Cultural relativism Universals (Philosophy)

111.6