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
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