cognitive relativism

noun

The view that the cognitive styles or habits of perception, reasoning, judgment, and knowledge of the world are not absolute, but are relative to historical eras and to various cultures.

Similar
factual relativism
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Meanings

nouncognitive relativism (uncountable)
  1. uncountablehuman sciencesThe view that the cognitive styles or habits of perception, reasoning, judgment, and knowledge of the world are not absolute, but are relative to historical eras and to various cultures.

    Whereas moral relativism deals with matters of value, cognitive relativism deals with matters of fact (although sharp distinctions may at times be difficult to make) (Hollis and Lukes 1982, p. 2).

    2003, Shelby D. Hunt, Controversy in Marketing Theory: For Reason, Realism, Truth, and Objectivity, page 102
    2 more examples

    Cognitive relativism, as it is presented in the Fables, is simply a recognition that knowledge is dependent on the conditions and the instruments of knowing, some of which are more reliable than others. La Fontaine's approach to cognitive relativism is descriptive and monitory.

    1996, Catherine Grisé, The Optics of Relativism in the Fables of La Fontaine, in Anne Lynn Birberick (editor), Refiguring la Fontaine: Tercentenary Studies, page 127

    Our main thesis is that cognitive relativism is a position that no scientist (in either the natural or the social sciences) should wish to embrace, and that methodological relativism makes sense only if one adheres to cognitive relativism.

    2001, Jean Bricmont, Alan Sokal, “Chapter 3: Science and Sociology of Science: Beyond War and Peace”, in Jay A. Labinger, Harry M. Collins, editors, One Culture?: A Conversation about Science, page 38

    Synonyms: factual relativism

Synonyms & antonyms

nounThe view that the cognitive styles or habits of perception, reasoning, judgment, and knowledge of the world are not absolute, but are relative to historical eras and to various cultures.

Similar
factual relativism
Also see
factual relativism
Cite this entry
APA

cognitive relativism. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/cognitive%20relativism

MLA

“cognitive relativism.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/cognitive%20relativism. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “cognitive relativism,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/cognitive%20relativism.

Source: cognitive relativism on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.