The Two Great Threats to Truth
The author argues that moral relativism and the refusal to acknowledge human fallibility are the two primary threats to truth and civil discourse. He advocates for intellectual humility and engagement with opposing viewpoints to preserve civic life.
Why it matters
This philosophical analysis addresses the current state of political polarization and the erosion of objective truth in public debate.
Moral relativism and fanaticism may seem to have nothing in common, but they lead to the same result.
Illustration by The Atlantic. Source: Sebastian Gollnow / Picture Alliance / Getty August 1, 2026, 8 AM ET Share Save Truth is under threat today from two opposing impulses. The first is subjectivism, or relativism: the denial of the existence of objective truth or the possibility of ever attaining it. This proposition may seem abstract, but it has direct consequences for our civic life. Contrary to what one hears at cocktail parties or in freshman philosophy classes, relativism is the predicate not of tolerance but of repression.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in