Relativism and the Norm of Truth

Abstract

In several contributions John MacFarlane has argued that certain classes of assertions must be considered true relative to one context of assessment and false relative to another context of assessment. According to Gareth Evans, however, it can be argued that if the truth of a proposition becomes relative, then it ceases to function as a norm of assertion, as it no longer provides a stable goal or intention for assertions. MacFarlane's response is to deny that truth orientation is a necessary feature of all assertions. This essay argues that MacFarlane does not meet Evans' challenge correctly, and this for two reasons: 1) he fails to account for the norms of assertion that do not presuppose the norm of truth; 2) his explanation of the norms of assertion remains exposed to objections of the kind Evans has raised.