Relativism in Farenheit 451, by Ray Bradbury

833 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Critical evaluation of moral relativism

“Nothing is more likely to distort our understanding of reality than the notion of relativism.” (Rombouts 257). Relativism is the belief that truth and principles are not absolute but only relative to a person or group of people. Absolutism is the acceptance of absolute principles. Both of these ethical philosophies are found today and have been present since the beginning of recorded history. History also proves the negative impact or weakness of a relative culture. The philosophy of relativism is a growing trend in the society of American students. In Fahrenheit 451, relativism makes up almost the entire society. This story shows that the course of a society without solid principles can be destructive.
Today in American society absolutists are viewed as close-minded and judgmental because of outside misconceptions. For example, in William B. Irvine’s article Confronting Relativism, he lists many misconceptions, including “absolutists view the world only in black-and-white terms”. One instance might be that an individual believes binge drinking is harmful to the student society. Some relativists might say that this individual is judgmental and “no fun” because it is not hurting anyone. There is little basis for that argument. Absolutist students today are dealing with rejection from those who lack absolute truths around them. Relativism is the result when one does not realize the outcome of his or her actions (Irvine 42). Self-interest is a main characteristic of relativism. Most students find that once they think things through they are actually “closet absolutists” (Irvine 47).
Absolutists in Fahrenheit 451’s society are oppressed. For example, Clarisse, Montag, and Faber all experienced or feared judgment from those around t...

... middle of paper ...

...edu>
Irvine, William B. “Confronting Relativism” Academic Questions. 14.1 (2000) 42. Academic Search Complete. EBSCOhost. Stratton Taylor Coll. Lib., OK. 23 Oct. 2013.
Seed, David. “The Flight from the Good Life: Fahrenheit 451 in the Context of Postwar American Dystopias.” In Modern Critical Interpretations: Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451 2001, edited by Harold Bloom, 75-88. Broomall: Chelsea House Publishers, 2001, 2003.
Bradbury, Ray. “Fahrenheit 451.” 44-49. New York: Simon & Schuster Paperbacks 2013.
Bradbury, Ray. “Fahrenheit 451.”54-55. New York: Simon & Schuster Paperbacks 2013.
Lind, Georg. “Moral Competence and the Democratic way of Living.” Europe’s Journal of Psychology. 7.4 (2011): 569-596. Academic Search Complete. EBSCOhost. Stratton Taylor Coll. Lib., OK. 26 Oct. 2013.

Show More
Related

  • Relative Speaking Summary

    1003 Words  | 3 Pages

    In the introduction, Blackburn constructs a clear antithesis between absolutism and relativism, and illustrates their focuses with colloquial words like “bullshitting” and “fetish”. Although this way of expressing ideas is kind of rude, it makes audiences easily understand the ongoing conflict between these two ideas and intrigue them to read more. The rest of the article continues such fun style of writing until the part where the author begins to point out the problems within the prevalent idea, relativism. The author’s reasoning against relativism starts with an imaginary debate where pros and cons are discussing the validity of banning fox hunting. Then the author introduces a relativist, Rosie, who tells the pros and cons that “The truth you are holding is relative; what you believe is true may not be true for the other.” Since this point, the author’s reasoning begins to become intense. First, he argues that what Rosie suggests doesn’t contribute to the debate because with or without her intervention, the debate will remain controversial. Then he digs deeper by suggesting that Rosie may want to emphasize toleration is essential yet such claim is actually absolute, which contradicts the relativist value that Rosie believes. Finally, Blackburn states that in order to avoid such paradox, Rosie may assert that “You have your truth; I have mine”, yet it still doesn’t contribute anything to the

    Read More

  • Farenheit 451: Some Kind of Zombies

    981 Words  | 2 Pages

    Seed, David. " The Flight from the Good Life: "Farenheit 451" in the context of Postwar American Dystopias. " Journal of American Studies 28.2 (1994): 225-240.

    Read More

  • Review of Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451

    1494 Words  | 3 Pages

    Review of Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451 In Ray Bradbury's novel Fahrenheit 451, the author utilizes the

    Read More

  • Fahrenheit 451 Essay

    1147 Words  | 3 Pages

    Fahrenheit 451’s relevance to today can be very detailed and prophetic when we take a deep look into our American society. Although we are not living in a communist setting with extreme war waging on, we have gained technologies similar to the ones Bradbury spoke of in Fahrenheit 451 and a stubborn civilization that holds an absence on the little things we should enjoy. Bradbury sees the future of America as a dystopia, yet we still hold problematic issues without the title of disaster, as it is well hidden under our Democracy today. Fahrenheit 451 is much like our world today which includes television, the loss of free speech, and the loss of the education and use of books.

    Read More

  • Conformity And Resistance In Fahrenheit 451, By Ray Bradbury

    1680 Words  | 4 Pages

    Although the 2007 Pulitzer Prize winner, Ray Bradbury, has written many remarkable novels, the one novel that captured both my eye and my interest was Fahrenheit 451. The metaphors in this novel I will gladly explain to my classmates about the themes such as resistance, the metaphors, and the characters within the novel. I believe that the overall violence and resistance will be a major key as to why there are conformity and fear within the society. Bradbury had written this novel after a series of previous novels such as, The Pedestrian, leading to this and was inspired by not only the 1950s television generation but also by an incident that occurred, “when he and a friend were stopped by members of the Los Angeles police for walking.” (Seed “Ray Bradbury” 84) In this paper, I will analyze Ray Bradbury’s novel, Fahrenheit 451, and clarify the novel’s content.

    Read More

  • Argumentative Essay On Fahrenheit 451

    966 Words  | 2 Pages

    In today’s world, there is an abundance of social problems relating to those from the novel Fahrenheit 451. In Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, the protagonist Montag exhibits drastic character development throughout the course of the novel. Montag lives in a world where books are banned from society and no one is able to read them. Furthermore, Montag has to find a way to survive and not be like the rest of society. This society that Montag lives has became so use to how they live that it has affected them in many ways. Bradbury’s purpose of Fahrenheit 451 was to leave a powerful message for readers today to see how our world and the novel’s world connect through texting while driving, censorship and addiction.

    Read More

  • Dystopian Society In Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451

    874 Words  | 2 Pages

    Ray Bradbury introduces in his novel, Fahrenheit 451 (1953), a dystopian society manipulated by the government through the use of censored television and the outlaw of books. During the opening paragraph, Bradbury presents protagonist Guy Montag, a fireman whose job is to burn books, and the society he lives in; an indifferent population with a extreme dependence on technology. In Bradbury’s novel, the government has relied on their society’s ignorance to gain political control. Throughout the novel, Bradbury uses characters such as Mildred, Clarisse, and Captain Beatty to show the relationships Montag has, as well as, the types of people in the society he lives in. Through symbolism and imagery, the audience is able to see how utterly unhappy Clarisse, as well as Faber and Granger, represent the more thoughtful minority population.

    Read More

  • Comparing Fahrenheit 451 And The Lottery

    623 Words  | 2 Pages

    Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451 leads from an average beginning by introducing a new world for readers to become enveloped in, followed by the protagonist’s descent into not conforming to society’s rules, then the story spirals out of control and leaves readers speechless by the actions taken by the main character and the government of this society. This structure reinforces the author’s main point of how knowledge is a powerful entity that would force anyone to break censorship on a society.

    Read More

  • The Ethics Of Relativism

    771 Words  | 2 Pages

    (IEP) Relativism is related to the theory of morals where the acceptance of its views and actions is based upon the culture, the people within the society, and the overall outlook based upon a specific group of individuals. The idea and practice of relativism causes much controversy around the world amongst different cultures and societies. Although relativism can vary amongst different cultures based upon the morals, beliefs, and values that are considered accepted, the theory behind relativism can be practiced as a universal theory. Children in society are raised according to how their parents want to raise them. Parents practice the way they raise their children based upon what their society accepts and/or how they were raised by their parents. Children become developed into believing how they were raised is true, therefore, they will one day raise their own children in the exact same practice. As these children grow and develop, they will learn to understand whether or not their actions and what they say are accepted or not accepted within their

    Read More

  • Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

    889 Words  | 2 Pages

    Imagine a society where books are prohibited, where the basic rights made clear in the First Amendment hold no weight and society is merely a brainwashed, mechanical population. According to Ray Bradbury, the author of Fahrenheit 451, this depiction is actually an exaggerated forecast for the American future, and in effect is happening around us every day. Simply reading his words can incite arguments pertaining not only to the banning of books but to our government structure itself. Age-old debates about Communism are stirred by the trials of characters in Bradbury’s unique world. By studying the protagonist and main character, Guy Montag, and his personal challenges we can, in a sense, evaluate our own lives to insure that we don’t make similar mistakes.

    Read More

  • Knowledge in Farenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

    1448 Words  | 3 Pages

    Telgen, Diane, ed. "Fahrenheit 451: Ray Bradbury 1953." Novels for Students. Vol. 1. Detroit, MI: Gale Research, 1997. 138-57. Print.

    Read More

  • A Parallel Between Two Worlds: Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

    693 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Majority of people today believe that the society in Fahrenheit 451 is far-fetched and could never actually happen, little do they know that it is a reflection of the society we currently live in. In Ray Bradbury's novel Fahrenheit 451 books are burnt due to people's lack of interest in them and the fire is started by firemen. Social interactions is at an all time low and most time is spent in front of the television being brainwashed by advertisements. In an attempt to make us all aware of our faults, Bradbury imagines a society that is a parallel to the world we live in today by emphasizing the decline in literature, loss of ethics in advertisement, and negative effects of materialism.

    Read More

  • Captain Beatty in "Fahrenheit 451"

    952 Words  | 2 Pages

    Of all literary works regarding dystopian societies, Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451 is perhaps one of the most bluntly shocking, insightful, and relatable of them. Set in a United States of the future, this novel contains a government that has banned books and a society that constantly watches television. However, Guy Montag, a fireman (one who burns books as opposed to actually putting out fires) discovers books and a spark of desire for knowledge is ignited within him. Unfortunately his boss, the belligerent Captain Beatty, catches on to his newfound thirst for literature. A man of great duplicity, Beatty sets up Montag to ultimately have his home destroyed and to be expulsed from the city. On the other hand, Beatty is a much rounder character than initially apparent. Beatty himself was once an ardent reader, and he even uses literature to his advantage against Montag. Moreover, Beatty is a critical character in Fahrenheit 451 because of his morbid cruelty, obscene hypocrisy, and overall regret for his life.

    Read More

  • Moral Relativism

    1958 Words  | 4 Pages

    Rachels, J. (1986). The Challenge of Cultural Relativism. The elements of moral philosophy (pp. 20-36). Philadelphia: Temple University Press.

    Read More

  • Ethical Relativism and Cultural Relativism

    714 Words  | 2 Pages

    In explaining Cultural Relativism, it is useful to compare and contrast it with Ethical Relativism. Cultural Relativism is a theory about morality focused on the concept that matters of custom and ethics are not universal in nature but rather are culture specific. Each culture evolves its own unique moral code, separate and apart from any other. Ethical Relativism is also a theory of morality with a view of ethics similarly engaged in understanding how morality comes to be culturally defined. However, the formulation is quite different in that from a wide range of human habits, individual opinions drive the culture toward distinguishing normal “good” habits from abnormal “bad” habits. The takeaway is that both theories share the guiding principle that morality is bounded by culture or society.

    Read More

More about Relativism in Farenheit 451, by Ray Bradbury

Open Document