MULTICULTURALISM, RELATIVISM, CREATIONISM

Teaching students the importance of considering alternative viewpoints from a variety of cultures brings with it the challenge of avoiding a vicious form of substantive relativism — the view that the virtues of considering multiple theories implies the conclusion that there is no truth beyond opinion. This talk will describe how such an error in reasoning comes about, and suggest strategies for combating substantive relativism in the classroom. While many may believe that creationism is a form of science, and it is important to listen to their views, demarcating criteria for scientific theories can be used to develop an inter-subjective standard for scientifically corroborable hypotheses, and not all opinions are equally acceptable