Voltaire's claim regarding cultural relativism of values, expressed in his famous dictum that "what is in in Paris is right out in Peking", is best explained by reference to that famous French saying that he who comes from afar can say anything he wants. Since times immemorial it has been the famous trick of the relativist brigade to say that in China (Turkey, Patagonia) they do it completely differently. Here one fabricates something suitably ridiculous (such as "they grow children in clay pots like scallions, head down", etc.). Since no one has the expertise to deny us, presto, we have scored a point.
Except, of course, that at the time when Voltaire coined his famous dictum, Chinese pottery was all the rage in Europe, imported en masse and at huge cost, avidly collected and inexpertly copied in low quality reproductions in state-funded pirate factories set up for that purpose. In other words, right in front of Voltaire's prominent nose as he sipped his breakfast hot chocolate, there reposed clear proof that at least some things in in Peking were very much in in Paris.
He didn't notice it.
Apr 3, 2009
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