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