Expert: Maria - 3/20/2007

Question
Hi, Maria-

I was wondering if there is any translation to Latin for relativity? I've looked everywhere but can't seem to find anything specific. What are some options for saying that something is relative to, say, a viewpoint, or experience, or just something else in general?

Thank you in advance!

Answer
Hello,

There is no Latin  term for ‘relativity’ (i.e.“a state of dependence in which the existence or significance of one entity is solely dependent on that of another) or for ‘relativism’ (i.e. “the doctrine that there are no absolute truths in ethics and that what is morally right or wrong varies from person to person or from society to society”).

This because the Romans had moral ideas and principles as well as rules of conduct which did not provide for this eventuality.

Anyway, if they had to say that something was relative to a viewpoint, e.g., they used a periphrasis.
For example, ”Ambigua quaedam ratio” means “A relative viewpoint” as a viewpoint dependent on, or interconnected with something else, and then not absolute.
Also, “Notiones quae facta comparatione intelleguntur”, i.e. “Relative ideas”.

In short, there are different ways to express the concept of what can be relative to something in general.

Best regards,
Maria
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Please note that even in ancient Greek there was no noun to indicate the ‘relativism’, though it was just the Greek philosopher Protagoras (fl. fifth century B.C) who coined the phrase, "Man  is the measure of all things: of things which are, that they are, and of things which are not, that they are not".
He in fact is considered the founding father of relativism in the Western World.