The Myth of the Framework

Abstract

One of the more disturbing features of intellectual life at the present time is the way in which irrationalism is so widely advocated, and irrationalist doctrines taken for granted. In my view, one of the main components of modern irrationalism is relativism (the doctrine that truth is relative to our intellectual background or framework: that it may change from one framework to another), and, in particular, the doctrine of the impossibility of mutual understanding between different cultures, generations, or historical periods. In this paper I discuss the problem of relativism. It is my claim that behind it lies what I call ‘The Myth of the Framework’. I explain and criticize this myth, and comment also on arguments due to Quine, Kuhn, and Whorf which have been used in its defence.

“Those who believe this, and those who do not, have no common ground of discussion, but in view of their opinions they must of necessity scorn each other.”

Plato

Based on a paper which I first prepared in 1965. I am indebted to Arne Petersen and Jeremy Shearmur for various suggestions and corrections. The motto is from Plato’s Crito, 49D.