Similar to Ken Wilber's "Pre/trans fallacy", which is about conflating pre-rational views with trans-rational views, the Relative/absolute fallacy is about conflating relative perspectives with The Absolute perspective. This is the main source of confusion in the forms of spirituality that deal with the implications of non-duality (Oneness).
There are generally two levels to the fallacy:
1. The first level is the conflation that happens when you don't have knowledge about the distinction between the relative and The Absolute (dual/non-dual). This is common in pre-rational religious people (Wilber). The way that traditional religion interprets various holy texts is itself a good example.
2. The second level happens when you do have knowledge about the distinction between relative and absolute (but it's obviously not complete knowledge). This is common in (aspiring) trans-rational people. A common example is to think that because nothing ultimately really matters, morality doesn't matter, and therefore it's fine to for example hurt other people. This is to conflate "the relative" with "The Absolute". From The Absolute perspective, yes, nothing really matters, but morality can only ever be defined "relative" to a certain value system in the first place. By taking the absolute perspective, you're deliberately stepping outside of all value systems, but "it's fine to hurt other people" would be a moral statement, which means you're actually invoking a relative perspective.
There are generally two levels to the fallacy:
1. The first level is the conflation that happens when you don't have knowledge about the distinction between the relative and The Absolute (dual/non-dual). This is common in pre-rational religious people (Wilber). The way that traditional religion interprets various holy texts is itself a good example.
2. The second level happens when you do have knowledge about the distinction between relative and absolute (but it's obviously not complete knowledge). This is common in (aspiring) trans-rational people. A common example is to think that because nothing ultimately really matters, morality doesn't matter, and therefore it's fine to for example hurt other people. This is to conflate "the relative" with "The Absolute". From The Absolute perspective, yes, nothing really matters, but morality can only ever be defined "relative" to a certain value system in the first place. By taking the absolute perspective, you're deliberately stepping outside of all value systems, but "it's fine to hurt other people" would be a moral statement, which means you're actually invoking a relative perspective.
You're conflating relative perspectives with The Absolute perspective ("The Relative/Absolute Fallacy").
Albert thinks he is God and nobody else is. Albert has committed the Relative/Absolute Fallacy.
Albert thinks he is God and nobody else is. Albert has committed the Relative/Absolute Fallacy.
by Carich99 December 23, 2020
Get the The Relative/absolute fallacymug. by Absolute-dd September 28, 2019
Get the Absolute Developmentmug. by Mr. Hugh March 5, 2024
Get the Absolute unitmug. by Stegosaurusrexx November 24, 2021
Get the the absolute mother fucking greatestmug. Yeah dude it was so cold this morning that I think it would hit about absolute mucus. It was very uncomfortable.
Student: What is the exact temperature of Absolute mucus
Teacher: It varies depending on many factors including but not limited to, the amount of mucus in nose, size of nose, and amount of hair in nose.
Student: What is the exact temperature of Absolute mucus
Teacher: It varies depending on many factors including but not limited to, the amount of mucus in nose, size of nose, and amount of hair in nose.
by TheGuyWhoDefinesThingsSOmetime August 25, 2018
Get the Absolute Mucusmug. That one guy who eats all your food in your fridge with his pants off.
He wack, but he yo homie. you get mad at him but you get over it.
He comes out as gay but he's still your little horny elf.
he sends you dick pics but you still love him.
He wack, but he yo homie. you get mad at him but you get over it.
He comes out as gay but he's still your little horny elf.
he sends you dick pics but you still love him.
by a3sw4ed5rftijkoplkijuhygtfrdfy October 22, 2020
Get the Absolute Garden Gnomemug. A very large, obese cat.
In order for a fat cat to be considered an absolute unit, it must NOT be of a breed that is naturally very large in size (ex. a Maine Coon).
An orange cat that weighs 25 lbs = Absolute Unit
A Maine Coon that weighs 25 lbs = NOT an Absolute Unit
In order for a fat cat to be considered an absolute unit, it must NOT be of a breed that is naturally very large in size (ex. a Maine Coon).
An orange cat that weighs 25 lbs = Absolute Unit
A Maine Coon that weighs 25 lbs = NOT an Absolute Unit
by Ubeenbamboozledson April 5, 2022
Get the Absolute Unitmug.