“Scholars generally agree that the first ‘relativist’ was the ancient Greek philosopher Protagoras (approximately 490-421 BC)… what is true and false is determined not by things outside of a person, but simply by a person’s own perspective… Plato [428-348 BC] provided a devastating critique of Protagoras’ idea that ‘Man is the measure of all things’. If everything is relative to man’s perspective, argued Plato, that must also apply to Protagoras’ own idea that truth is relative… if Protagoras really thinks it is true that things are only true according to a person’s perspective, then, that would mean Protagoras’ idea is actually false because at least one truth (Protagoras’ idea) would then not be relative.”
The above is an excerpt from: A Spectator’s Guide to World Views (2007), edited by Simon Smart, pages 174-175.
Relativism was out and about BC, and is out and about again now AD. This world and its societies don’t ‘evolve’ through the supposed latest belief system, it goes in circles and never finds peace. Its ever changing restless consistency always wants more because it never holds true hope.
Thankfully we have a choice not to trust in this world and its incapability to provide a permanent solution. In Romans 15.13 it states “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit”. Praise God!
Yes, and according to Protagoras’ theory, if I said that his view was false, then that would be true.
Good call, put clearly and simply.