Abstract

The more tangible and prominent theme of the debate central to this book—relativism and the place of absolutes and transcendental conditions in the philosophical vocabulary—is tied to a deeper, though equally evident, concern with the relation between theory and practice. This is understandable. For if philosophy is to be more than merely reflective—if it is also to be practical—it must recognize the concrete historical and cultural conditions under which it operates. And this recognition makes the quest for eternal truths and enduring values problematic.