Theory of Valid Relativism

The systematic elaboration of valid relativism as a framework for understanding truth, knowledge, and value. The Theory of Valid Relativism argues that relativism, properly understood, is not a surrender to arbitrariness but a sophisticated recognition of context-dependence. It develops criteria for evaluating perspectives without appealing to absolute standards: coherence, comprehensiveness, practical adequacy, explanatory power. It distinguishes between weak relativism (all perspectives are equally valid) and strong relativism (perspectives can be compared and evaluated, but not by absolute standards). The Theory of Valid Relativism is the attempt to think clearly about a world where truth is plural but not meaningless.

Example: "He'd been searching for a way to acknowledge cultural differences without giving up on judgment. The Theory of Valid Relativism gave him that: different truths, but not equally valid. He could respect other perspectives while still evaluating them, learning from them, sometimes rejecting them. Relativism didn't mean no standards; it meant better standards."

by Abzugal February 21, 2026

Theory of Logical Privilege

The systematic elaboration of logical privilege as a framework for understanding the politics of reasoning. The Theory of Logical Privilege argues that logic is not a neutral tool but a field of power—that some logical systems are privileged, others marginalized, and that this privilege reflects social hierarchies, not cognitive superiority. It traces how Western logic became dominant, how it was used to justify colonialism and exclusion, how other logical traditions were suppressed. It doesn't reject Western logic; it calls for examining its privilege and opening space for other logics. The Theory of Logical Privilege is the foundation of logical decolonization.

Example: "He'd thought logic was above politics—pure reason, universal truth. The Theory of Logical Privilege showed him otherwise: logic had a history, a politics, a relationship to power. Western logic wasn't logic; it was a logic—privileged because of colonialism, not because it was better. He started learning other logics, other ways of reasoning, other tools for thought."

by Abzugal February 21, 2026

Theory of Scientific Privilege

The systematic elaboration of scientific privilege as a framework for understanding the politics of knowledge. The Theory of Scientific Privilege argues that science is not a neutral pursuit of truth but a field of power—that certain scientific methods, institutions, and knowledge systems are privileged, others marginalized, and that this privilege reflects social hierarchies, not epistemic superiority. It traces how Western science became dominant, how it was used to justify exploitation and exclusion, how other knowledge systems were suppressed. It doesn't reject science; it calls for examining its privilege and opening space for other ways of knowing. The Theory of Scientific Privilege is the foundation of epistemic decolonization.

Example: "She'd believed science was simply the best way to know things—objective, universal, true. The Theory of Scientific Privilege showed her otherwise: science had a politics, a history, a relationship to power. Western science was privileged because of empire, not because it was better. She started learning from other knowledge systems, other ways of knowing, other truths."

by Abzugal February 21, 2026

Theory of the Power of Reality

The theory that reality itself is shaped by power—that what counts as real, what counts as true, what counts as possible is determined by those who hold power. The Theory of the Power of Reality argues that power doesn't just control resources or institutions; it controls the very terms of existence. The powerful define what can be said, what can be thought, what can be known. They shape reality not by lying but by defining the frameworks within which truth is told. This theory is the foundation of critical realism, of the recognition that reality has a politics, that truth is never neutral.

Theory of the Power of Reality Example: "He used to think reality was just reality—given, fixed, neutral. The Theory of the Power of Reality showed him otherwise: those with power decided what was real. Their version was taught, repeated, enforced. Other realities existed, but they were suppressed. He started asking who got to define reality—and who paid the price."

by Abzugal February 21, 2026

Theory of Scientific Paradigms

The theory, associated with Thomas Kuhn, that science progresses not through steady accumulation of knowledge but through paradigm shifts—fundamental changes in the frameworks within which science operates. A paradigm is a whole worldview: assumptions, methods, standards, exemplars. Normal science works within a paradigm; revolutionary science breaks it. The Theory of Scientific Paradigms explains why science is not simply cumulative, why old theories are not simply absorbed into new ones, why scientific change is often resisted and traumatic. It's the theory that science is human, historical, and revolutionary—not a smooth march to truth but a series of ruptures.

Example: "He'd thought science just added knowledge over time, like building a wall brick by brick. The Theory of Scientific Paradigms showed him otherwise: science was more like a series of earthquakes—old structures collapsed, new ones rose, and the landscape was permanently changed. The bricks didn't just accumulate; they were reshuffled, remade, sometimes discarded."

by Abzugal February 21, 2026

Theory of Rational Paradigms

The extension of paradigm theory to rationality itself—the idea that what counts as rational operates within paradigms, frameworks that shift over time and vary across contexts. The Theory of Rational Paradigms argues that there is no single, timeless standard of rationality; instead, different paradigms define rationality differently. What was rational in one era (burning witches, bleeding patients) is irrational in another; what's rational in one culture (ancestor worship, spirit communication) is irrational in another. This doesn't mean rationality is arbitrary; it means rationality is historical, cultural, and plural. The task is not to find the one true rationality but to understand different rational paradigms.

Example: "He'd thought rationality was the same everywhere—universal, timeless, objective. The Theory of Rational Paradigms showed him otherwise: what counted as rational shifted with time and place. Medieval rationality wasn't failed modern rationality; it was different rationality altogether. He stopped judging other paradigms by his own and started trying to understand them on their terms."

by Abzugal February 21, 2026

Theory of Privileged Logical Position

The systematic elaboration of privileged logical position as a framework for understanding the politics of argumentation. The Theory of Privileged Logical Position argues that logical authority is not distributed equally—that some positions are privileged by their association with dominant institutions, cultures, or power structures. It traces how this privilege operates, how it shapes discourse, how it excludes alternative positions. It doesn't claim that privileged positions are always wrong; it claims that their privilege should be examined, not assumed. The theory is the foundation of argumentative justice, of the recognition that a fair debate requires examining not just arguments but the conditions under which they're heard.

Example: "He'd thought debates were won by the better argument. The Theory of Privileged Logical Position showed him otherwise: some arguments started ahead, some started behind. The playing field wasn't level; the scales were tipped by privilege. He stopped assuming his arguments won because they were better and started asking why they were privileged."

by Abzugal February 21, 2026