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Zagadnienie relatywizmu w myśli Charlesa Taylora
(Towarzystwo Doktorantów UJ, 2011) Moskulak, Martyna; Uniwersytet Jagielloński
In my paper I am going to examine one of the most interesting issues concerning Charles Taylor’s ethical reflection, which is the notion of relativism. The goal of this article is to present the topic in the context of an actual debate on the current condition of Western society in the age of pluralism. In this debate, Taylor fulfils the role of an important commentator on contemporary social phenomena and a narrator of the complexity of processes which are standing behind them. The notion which I particularly pay attention to is soft relativism. This notion describes the attitude expressed by the firm conviction that we should allow others to do what they please, and do not criticize their beliefs. The notion of soft relativism is related to the distorted forms of individualism. Opposite the basic moral intuition that we can reasonably talk about ideals, stands a moral prohibition questioning other people’s values. Another dimension of the problem of relativism is the diversity of views, cultures, religion and origins that exist within a community. Taylor presents his own approach to pluralism and tolerance, referring to the various positions in the past and the present. The article consists of an introduction, a conclusion and five consecutive parts. The introduction provides a brief description of Charles Taylor’s philosophy. Part I sets out to establish the specificity of the philosopher as a third way thinker. Part II is a preliminary presentation of soft relativism. Part III refers to the ethical basis of relativism and touches upon the issue of individualism. Part IV presents a polemic between Taylor and a sociologist Allan Bloom and shows interiorization as a means of moral coexistence. Part V concerns the issue of relativism on the ground of culture; it presents Taylor’s position in the view of the politics of difference and universalism. The conclusion leaves several questions open for further exploration of the topic.