Truth about human societies is relative to its producer
Evidence
I cannot say for sure whether in matters having to do with human society there is such a thing as absolute truth or perfectly true knowledge; perhaps such things exist in the abstract — a proposition I do not find hard to accept — but in present reality truth about such matters as “Islam” is relative to who produces it. It will be noted that such a position does not rule out gradations of knowledge (good, bad, indifferent), nor the possibility of saying things accurately. It simply asks that anyone speaking about “Islam” remember what any beginning student of literature knows: that the writing or reading of texts about human reality brings into play many more factors than can be accounted for (or protected) by labels like “objective.” — Edward W. Said, Covering Islam, 81
Categorization
- DEEPTHINKING: A careful, non-reductive relativism that preserves gradations of knowledge while rejecting ‘objectivity’ as a shield — worth sitting with.
Related
- Every portrayal of Islam is an act of willed interpretation, not a description. (similarity 0.81)
- Knowledge of other cultures is judged by the needs of the producing society. (similarity 0.80)
- The reified notion of Islam has hindered rather than helped understanding of Muslim societies (similarity 0.80)
- Large abstractions are social constructs despite real physical reality existing. (similarity 0.80)
- Faith’s perceived truth validates whatever facts appear to support it (similarity 0.78)
- Understanding Islam’s coverage requires demystifying the power-knowledge link (similarity 0.78)