Final answer:
Relativism asserts the relativity of truth and morals to perspectives or cultures, while skepticism questions the possibility of certain knowledge. Though related, they are not opposites; skepticism can lead to relativism, especially in ethics, but it also can promote a careful, critical approach to understanding truth.
Step-by-step explanation:
Relativism and skepticism are philosophical concepts that deal with knowledge and truth, yet they have distinct differences. Relativism is the view that truth and moral principles are not absolute but are relative to the viewpoints or cultures from which they derive. It suggests that there are no universal truths applicable to all societies or individuals. Skepticism, on the other hand, is a broader epistemological stance where individuals question the possibility of absolute knowledge or truth. It challenges whether we can know anything with certainty.
Moral skepticism can lead to relativism, as it questions the existence of objective moral truths, which may result in the acceptance that moral claims are only true relative to individual perceptions or cultural norms. However, moral relativism is controversial because it can limit the search for common ethical ground and imply that moral disagreements are insurmountable. This creates a tension between seeking absolute truths and accepting the notion that all beliefs are context-dependent. Philosophers like Socrates sought to find a middle ground, rejecting both the mythopoetic beliefs of his age and the relativism of his contemporaries, without necessarily resorting to absolutism.
Skepticism can also adopt a positive role by advocating for careful scrutiny and critique before accepting claims as true, supporting a measured approach to knowledge. This form of skepticism seeks a balance between doubt and the acknowledgment that while certainty may be elusive, closer approximations to truth and knowledge are possible.