If
we think of knowledge as knowledge of a reality that exists
independently of ourselves, then the relativist has a problem.
But is there another way to think of knowledge?
I'm thinking of the readings that professor Sidgwick gave us,
including selections from John Rawls and Norman Daniels. Rawls says
that the notion of moral truth is problematic. Instead, he introduces
what he calls "reflective equilibrium." Daniels elaborated
this concept and applied it to concrete situations. There are two
kinds of reflective equilibrium: narrow and wide.
- Narrow reflective equilibrium is a logical consistency achieved
by thinking about and adjusting specific moral judgments and
general moral principles.
- Wide reflective equilibrium is a logical consistency achieved by
thinking about and adjusting moral principles and the other major
elements in our system of beliefs.
I think wide reflective equilibrium is something the relativist can
work to achieve. My question is whether it would be philosophically
acceptable to call this wide reflective equilibrium moral knowledge?