It's Not Relativism

David French at Phi Beta Cons

I routinely receive correspondence from concerned parents who worry about relativism. What they need to understand, however, is that academic relativism is a tactic, not a substantive position. When a student of orthodox faith or a person of traditional belief presents a position, they are often countered with the classic relativistic verbal shrug (i.e. "that may be true for you but not for me"), but when the shoe is on the other foot--when the issue is dear to the heart of the academic--the position could not be more absolute. Insults like "racist" or "sexist" or "homophobe" do not come from relativism, but from absolutism.

(via Constitutionally Correct)