Truth of Taste: The Depth of Relativism

28 Pages Posted: 23 Jul 2015

See all articles by Tonya Manucharova

Tonya Manucharova

National Research University Higher School of Economics (Moscow)

Date Written: July 23, 2015

Abstract

Three relativistic semantic theories were suggested for the statements of taste: indexicalism, propositional relativism and factual relativism. Comparing and contrasting these possible solutions, I invoke three problems Max Kolbel formulates and focus on the problem of disagreement. I challenge Iris Einheuser's theory and claim that while indexical approach underestimates the problem of disagreement, factual relativism overestimates it. Propositional relativism appears to provide the most sensible explanation of the phenomenon.

Keywords: relativism, truth, taste, semantics, indexicalism, contextualism, propositional relativism, factual relativism

JEL Classification: Z

Suggested Citation

Manucharova, Tonya, Truth of Taste: The Depth of Relativism (July 23, 2015). Higher School of Economics Research Paper No. WP BRP 102/HUM/2015, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2634937 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2634937

Tonya Manucharova (Contact Author)

National Research University Higher School of Economics (Moscow) ( email )

Myasnitskaya street, 20
Moscow, Moscow 119017
Russia

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