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Relativism vs Materialism - What's the difference?

relativism | materialism |

As nouns the difference between relativism and materialism

is that relativism is (uncountable|philosophy) the theory, especially in ethics or aesthetics, that conceptions of truth and moral values are not absolute but are relative to the persons or groups holding them while materialism is constant concern over material possessions and wealth; a great or excessive regard for worldly concerns.

relativism

Noun

  • (uncountable, philosophy) The theory, especially in ethics or aesthetics, that conceptions of truth and moral values are not absolute but are relative to the persons or groups holding them.
  • (countable, philosophy) A specific such theory, advocated by a particular philosopher or school of thought.
  • * 2008 , Paul Boghossian, “Replies to Wright, MacFarlane and Sosa,” Philosophical Studies , vol. 141, no. 3, p. 413:
  • Following Gilbert Harman’s lead, my own formulation of relativism' about the normative domain was based on the classic examples of thoroughgoing ' relativisms drawn from physics.

    See also

    * alternativism * pragmatism

    materialism

    Noun

  • Constant concern over material possessions and wealth; a great or excessive regard for worldly concerns.
  • * Buckminster
  • The irregular fears of a future state had been supplanted by the materialism of Epicurus.
  • (philosophy) The philosophical belief that nothing exists beyond what is physical.
  • (obsolete, rare) Material substances in the aggregate; matter.
  • Synonyms

    * (philosophy) physicalism * (philosophy) philosophical materialism

    Antonyms

    * (philosophy) idealism

    Derived terms

    * philosophical materialism

    See also

    * idealism * physicalism