Relativism is a philosophical position that asserts that truth, morality, or knowledge is not absolute or universal but instead may vary according to different contexts, perspectives, or cultural norms. It challenges the idea that there are objective standards or criteria that apply universally to all people and situations.

Key characteristics of relativism include:

1. Cultural Relativism: Cultural relativism asserts that moral or ethical beliefs, practices, and values are relative to a specific culture or society. What is considered right or wrong, good or bad, varies across different cultural contexts, and there is no objective standard against which all cultures can be judged.
2. Epistemological Relativism: Epistemological relativism suggests that knowledge and truth are relative to the perspective, beliefs, or assumptions of individuals or groups. It questions the possibility of achieving objective, absolute knowledge and acknowledges that interpretations of reality may differ based on subjective factors.
3. Moral Relativism: Moral relativism contends that ethical principles and judgments are relative to individual preferences, cultural norms, or situational contexts. It denies the existence of universal moral truths and emphasizes the diversity of moral codes across different societies or individuals.
4. Conceptual Relativism: Conceptual relativism challenges the universality of concepts and categories, suggesting that definitions, meanings, and classifications may vary depending on cultural or linguistic frameworks.
5. Pragmatic Relativism: Pragmatic relativism acknowledges the practical utility of adopting different perspectives or beliefs in different contexts, without necessarily committing to the truth or falsity of those perspectives in an absolute sense.
6. Critique and Debate: Relativism provokes debate and critique regarding the nature of truth, morality, and knowledge. Critics argue that relativism may lead to moral or epistemic skepticism, undermine universal human rights, or fail to account for objective facts and principles.

Relativism encompasses a range of positions and interpretations depending on the specific domain of inquiry (such as ethics, epistemology, or cultural studies) and the context in which it is applied. It challenges traditional assumptions about universality and encourages a critical examination of how beliefs, values, and knowledge are constructed and evaluated within different frameworks of understanding.