title: A Refutation of Moral Relativism: Interviews with an Absolutist
author:  Peter Kreeft 
description: The only boring aspect of this book is its title, which doesn't do justice to apologist Kreeft's intelligent, engaging dialogue between two fictional friends during a week of relaxation at Martha's Vineyard. Kreeft, philosophy professor at Boston College and author of more than 25 books, describes the absolutist character 'Isa as a Muslim fundamentalist from Palestine who teaches philosophy at the American University in Beirut. His interviewer and sparring partner is Libby Rawls, an African-American, liberal feminist journalist. Using a classic debate format, with impressive fairness to the opposite side, Kreeft defines relativism and its importance. Tracing relativism's evolution and history in Western philosophy, Kreeft notes that relativism is a fairly modern perspective, originating within the last few hundred years. He outlines the philosophical distinctions between it and absolutism with clarity and an integrity that will delight both the layperson and the professional philosopher. For Kreeft, relativism has eroded a collective and individual sense of accountability and contributed to social decay, yet he can see the other side, especially with regard to cross-cultural differences. Although the purpose of the book is to uphold absolutism, Kreeft outlines the relativist perspective in an approachable, respectful manner. By giving counterarguments a fighting chance, this becomes a book that may actually persuade peopleAnot just preach to the absolutist choir. (Nov.) <BR>Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.
zlib_text: A REFUTATION OF MORAL RELATIVISM: INTERVIEWS WITH AN ABSOLUTIST
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  # A REFUTATION OF MORAL RELATIVISM
  
  
  __________
  
  
  INTERVIEWS WITH AN ABSOLUTIST
  
  
  BY
  
  
  PETER KREEFT
  
  
  IGNATIUS PRESS SAN FRANCISCO
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Cover design by Roxanne Mei Lum
  
  
  © 1999 Ignatius Press, San Francisco  
  All rights reserved  
  ISBN 978-0-89870-731-1 (PB)  
  ISBN 978-1-68149-018-2 (EB)  
  Library of Congress catalogue number 98-75209  
  Printed in the United States of America
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Dedicated to
  
  
  Thomas Aquinas,  
  Moses Maimonides,  
  and Al-Ghazali
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ## Contents
  
  
  [Technical Note](index_split_005.html#filepos3666)
  
  
  [Introduction](index_split_006.html#filepos4378)
  
  
  Interview 1: [The Importance of Moral Relativism: Will It Really “Damn Our
  Souls and End Our Species”?](index_split_007.html#filepos11932)
  
  
  Interview 2: [What Is Moral Relativism?](index_split_009.html#filepos43525)
  
  
  Interview 3: [The History of Relativism](index_split_011.html#filepos65697)
  
  
  Interview 4: [The Data](index_split