B1 Non-refereed journal articles
Demokratia, relativismi ja totuuden jälkeinen aika (2020)

Hautamäki, A. (2020). Demokratia, relativismi ja totuuden jälkeinen aika. Futura, 39(1), 18-27.

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Hautamäki, Antti

Journal or series: Futura

ISSN: 0785-5494

eISSN: 1459-0549

Publication year: 2020

Volume: 39

Issue number: 1

Pages range: 18-27

Publisher: Tulevaisuuden tutkimuksen seura

Publication country: Finland

Publication language: Finnish

Publication open access: Not open

Publication channel open access: 

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/73888

Abstract

In post-truth era people are tuned to listen more opinion leaders than professional experts. It seems that truth and knowledge were in danger. To analyze the situation philosophers are called. Then we face to opposite approaches: realism and relativism. Realists and anti-relativists in general seem to think that relativism in the form of postmodernism is somehow “guilty” to post-truth era. This statement is historically wrong and shows serious misinterpretation of societal pluralism around us. Pluralism is not based on massive errors but on the fact that people could disagree with good reasons. This is how the viewpoint relativism takes the situation: truth and knowledge are dependent on points of view. Pluralism is integrated part of liberal democracy; people has right to their own point of view. However, in democracy we have right and even obligation to criticize all points of view: they are not all equally good for society.

Keywords: democracy; public discussion; dialogicality; pluralism; realism (philosophy); relativism; truth; social philosophy

Free keywords: democracy; dialogue; pluralism; post-truth era; realism; relativism

Contributing organizations

Ministry reporting: Yes

Reporting Year: 2020