Cartoon by Bill Watterson.
In this strip, Calvin is touching on principles of relativism that I simply won't agree with. Calvin argues that there is no such thing as "good", because all sense of value is relative. What he means is that my beliefs about what is good may be completely different than someone else's beliefs about what is good, but we're both right in our own way. In this sense, an absolute value common to all people can't exist, as something that is "wrong" to me may be "right" for somebody else.
This logic stems from the basic idea that all truth is relative, and absolute truth cannot exist. It's easier to say that what's true for you is true for you, and what's true for me is true for me, and neither is right or wrong. However, the very concept of the statement "there are no absolute truths" assumes that that statement is an absolute truth! And since there are no absolute truths, that means there has to be an exception to that statement, meaning that an absolute truth does exist! Confused yet? You should be because it's a paradox!
This image is compliments of Quickmeme.
Think of it this way: relativism says that my truth is true to me. So if my truth says that "relativism is false," is it still true? If you answer yes, then the case is closed, and relativism is false! If you answer no, then what is true for me is not true, which makes relativism false. It's definitely a tricky subject that commands more than a 500 word blog post, but do you see my point? Calvin's argument that all values are relative is seeded in this concept, and it's the same logic that leaves him without the need of a New Year's resolution.
In all likelihood, Calvin is framing this logic as an excuse to be selfish or lazy; he doesn't need to change because there's no such thing as getting "better". If there's no meaning behind morality or a common value, how can there be any drive for change or self-improvement? How can there be a collective drive for societal improvement? If all values are relative, and there are no "true" morals, we're living in a selfish world where we should essentially just do whatever we want.
That's not the kind of world I believe in. I believe in a world where people love, people live selflessly, and people make sacrifices for others. I believe in a world where true morals do exist, where absolute truth can be found, and where individuals seek fulfillment in something higher. We need the courage to stand up for what we believe in and live a life of responsibility, virtue, and purpose.
This picture is courtesy of Brenda Dingley.
Now let's say everything I just wrote is actually wrong, which it could be. Let's say Calvin has it all figured out, and the theory I'm expressing in this post is simply inaccurate. Even if Calvin is right, which life do you want to live?
I'm not sure on Watterson's original intent for this strip, but I believe the humor is from a sort of dramatic irony. We are aware that Calvin is misguided about how to properly use relativism as a means of justification, yet his insistence makes it funny. But, there is validity in his words. While there is a division between good and bad, within "virtuous behaviour" there can be discrepancy between people. The quest for the "right thing" is funny isn't it.
ReplyDeleteI think the purpose of these strips is to poke fun at the lengths that one can take notions like values are completely subjective. While it is important to play out these conclusions, it is important to note that values that most find important are important for a reason. It'd be scary to see what society would arise if everyone rejected these common values.
ReplyDeleteI believe in our society today we are actually too tolerant of everyone else's opinions. Everyone gets offended by different beliefs. People need to express their values regardless of the consequences. That is what makes everyone unique. By expressing personal values with pride we can become a more diverse and over beneficial society.
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