Law of Absolute and Relative Objectivity

The principle that objectivity operates in two modes: absolute objectivity (a perspective from nowhere, free of all bias and particularity) and relative objectivity (the best approximation of neutrality achievable within a given context). The law acknowledges that pure objectivity may be an ideal we can approach but never reach—like a horizon that recedes as we advance. Relative objectivity is what we actually achieve: perspectives that are as free as possible from obvious bias, while still being situated in a particular time, place, and culture. The law of absolute and relative objectivity reconciles the aspiration to neutrality with the reality of situatedness.

Law of Absolute and Relative Objectivity Example: "He claimed his news source was 'completely objective.' She invoked the law of absolute and relative objectivity: absolute objectivity is impossible (no view from nowhere), but relative objectivity is achievable (minimizing bias, disclosing perspective). His source had relative objectivity at best; his claim to absolute was the problem. He kept watching anyway, which is what people do."

by Abzugal February 16, 2026

Law of Absolute and Relative Factuality

The principle that factuality operates in two modes: absolute facts (statements that are true regardless of perspective, context, or interpretation) and relative facts (statements that are true within a framework but may not hold across frameworks). The law acknowledges that some facts are universal—the Earth orbits the Sun, water is H2O—while others depend on conventions—"this is a meter long" depends on what a meter means. The law of absolute and relative factuality reconciles the reality of objective facts with the observation that many facts are framework-dependent. It's the foundation of scientific realism tempered with sociological awareness.

Law of Absolute and Relative Factuality Example: "They argued about whether the company's success was a fact. Absolute factuality: revenue numbers were real, measurable, undeniable. Relative factuality: whether that counted as 'success' depended on profit margins, market share, and what you valued. The law of absolute and relative factuality said: the numbers were absolute; their interpretation was relative. They stopped arguing about facts and started arguing about values."

by Abzugal February 16, 2026

Law of Absolute and Relative Reality

The principle that reality operates in two modes: absolute reality (the way things are independent of any observer) and relative reality (the way things appear from particular perspectives). The law acknowledges that there is a real world out there—rocks, trees, stars—but that our access to it is always mediated through perception, language, and culture. Absolute reality is what exists whether or not we're here to observe it; relative reality is what we experience, given our particular equipment and location. The law of absolute and relative reality reconciles realism with constructivism, acknowledging both that the world is real and that our knowledge of it is constructed.

Law of Absolute and Relative Reality Example: "They debated whether race was real. Absolute reality: there's no biological basis for race categories; they're human constructions. Relative reality: race is profoundly real in its social effects—it shapes lives, opportunities, experiences. The law of absolute and relative reality said: biologically constructed (not absolute), socially real (very relative). Both were right, which is why the debate is so charged."

by Abzugal February 16, 2026

Law of Absolute and Relative Biases

The principle that bias operates in two modes: absolute bias (distortions that are always and everywhere problematic) and relative bias (perspectives that are problematic in some contexts but valuable in others). The law acknowledges that some biases are universally harmful—racism, sexism, any distortion that systematically harms based on irrelevant characteristics. Other biases are context-dependent—a researcher's commitment to a theory can bias their interpretation (bad) or drive productive inquiry (good). The law of absolute and relative biases reconciles the need to reduce harmful bias with the recognition that complete bias-freedom is impossible and that some "biases" are just perspectives.

Law of Absolute and Relative Biases Example: "He accused her of bias because she approached the topic from her cultural background. She invoked the law of absolute and relative biases: some biases are universally harmful (she wasn't expressing those), others are just perspective (her cultural lens was inevitable, not malicious). The question wasn't whether she had bias—everyone does—but whether her bias was distorting or merely situating."

by Abzugal February 16, 2026

Law of Absolute and Relative Secrets

The principle that secrecy operates in two modes: absolute secrets (information that is truly hidden, known to none or few) and relative secrets (information that is secret to some but known to others). The law acknowledges that some secrets are genuinely hidden—the location of buried treasure, the true identity of a spy. Other secrets are matters of access—what's secret to the public may be open to insiders, what's secret in one culture may be common knowledge in another. The law of absolute and relative secrets reconciles the reality of hidden information with the observation that secrecy is often about boundaries, not absence.

Law of Absolute and Relative Secrets Example: "They argued about whether the government had secrets. Absolute secrets: yes, some information is truly hidden. Relative secrets: much of what's called 'secret' is just inaccessible to the public but known to many insiders. The law of absolute and relative secrets said: both true. The question wasn't whether secrets exist but who they're secret from and why."

by Abzugal February 16, 2026

Law of Absolute and Relative Evidence

The principle that evidence operates in two modes: absolute evidence (facts that are evidence regardless of perspective, context, or interpretation) and relative evidence (facts that serve as evidence only within particular frameworks, for particular purposes, to particular audiences). The law acknowledges that some evidence is universally compelling—a video of a crime, a DNA match, a document with a signature. Other evidence is context-dependent—statistics that prove one point to one audience and the opposite to another, testimony that's credible in one culture and suspect in another. The law of absolute and relative evidence reconciles the intuition that evidence should be objective with the reality that its force depends on who's judging. Good arguments use both kinds, building on undeniable facts while understanding that interpretation is always relative.

Example: "They argued about whether the data was evidence of climate change. Absolute evidence: the temperature readings were real, measurable, undeniable. Relative evidence: whether those readings proved catastrophic warming depended on models, interpretations, and assumptions. The law of absolute and relative evidence said: the data was absolute; its meaning was relative. They stopped arguing about the data and started arguing about interpretation."

by Abzugal Nammugal Enkigal February 16, 2026

Law of Absolute and Relative Facts

The principle that facts operate in two modes: absolute facts (statements that are true regardless of perspective, context, or interpretation) and relative facts (statements that are true within a framework but may not hold across frameworks). The law acknowledges that some facts are universal—the Earth orbits the Sun, water freezes at 0°C at sea level. Other facts are framework-dependent—"this is a crime" depends on legal systems, "this is valuable" depends on markets, "this is beautiful" depends on aesthetics. The law of absolute and relative facts reconciles the reality of objective facts with the observation that many facts are socially constructed. It's the foundation of clear thinking: knowing which facts are absolute and which are relative, and never confusing the two.

Law of Absolute and Relative Facts Example: "They debated whether the company's success was a fact. Absolute facts: revenue numbers were real, measurable, undeniable. Relative facts: whether that counted as 'success' depended on profit margins, market share, and what you valued. The law of absolute and relative facts said: the numbers were absolute; their interpretation was relative. They stopped arguing about facts and started arguing about values."

by Abzugal Nammugal Enkigal February 16, 2026