The Tyranny of Relativism is an impassioned attempt by one of England's most distinguished critics to capture the feel of British culture at the end of the twentieth century: its moods, attitudes, and institutions. Richard Hoggart presents a double argument, suggesting first that cultural dilemmas stem from a long slide towards moral relativism, as consumerism rather than authority increasingly determines the texture of life; and secondly, that despite its claims to the contrary, British Conservative governments have exploited these changes to their own ends.

Introduction to the Transaction Edition, Acknowledgments, Introduction, PART ONE: RELATIVISM TO OPPORTUNISM, 1: Riding Relativism's Wave, PART TWO: ASPECTS OF THE DOMINANT MOOD, 2: Distortions of Education, 3: The Arts: Intellectual, Artistic and Academic Relativism, 4: Angles on Mass and Popular Culture, 5: The Betrayal of Broadcasting, 6: Misuses of Language, 7: Ways of Looking: Compass Bearings in a Wide-Open Society?, PART THREE: GRIT ON THE FLYWHEEL, 8: Home Thoughts: Old-Style Checks and Balances, 9: From Class to Status: Resistance by Transference, 10 Patrons and Sponsors, 11 Effects of Mass Media: Kinds of Censorship, 12: Ancestral Voices: Myths and Mottoes to Live By, PART FOUR: WHO NEEDS A CLERISY?, 13: Democratic Representations and Democratic Spirits, 14 Diverse Voices, and Opinion-Formers, PART FIVE: A SUMMING-UP; AND A VERY QUALIFIED PROSPECTUS, 15 Where are We, and Where Do We Go from Here?, Index