Scientific Relativism

The view that scientific truth is relative to a conceptual framework, paradigm, or cultural context—what's true in one framework may not be true in another. This is often misunderstood as "everything is equally true," which is not the claim. The claim is that truth-claims are evaluated within frameworks, and frameworks themselves are not neutrally comparable. Newtonian physics is true within its domain of medium-sized objects moving at medium speeds; relativistic physics is true in a broader domain. They're not both true in the same way—they're true relative to their conditions of application. The relativism is about frameworks, not facts.

"Is mental illness a brain disorder or spiritual crisis? Scientific Relativism says: it depends on your framework. Both are real ways of understanding; neither is the final truth. The trick is knowing which framework fits which situation, not fighting about which is universally right."

by Abzugal February 23, 2026

Epistemological Relativism

The view that knowledge claims are relative to conceptual frameworks, cultural contexts, or epistemic systems—what counts as knowledge in one framework may not in another. This is often misunderstood as "everything is equally true," which is not the claim. The claim is that evaluation happens within frameworks, and frameworks themselves are not neutrally comparable. Astrology is knowledge within its framework; astronomy within its. They're not both true in the same way—they're knowledge relative to different systems. The relativism is about frameworks, not facts.

"Is this plant medicinal or poisonous? Epistemological Relativism says: it depends on your knowledge system. In Western pharmacology, it's poisonous. In traditional herbalism, it's medicine properly prepared. Both are knowledge relative to their frameworks. The question isn't which is 'true'—it's which framework fits your situation."

by Abzugal February 23, 2026