I know this is quite a broad philosophical topic, and I just recently found out about it, so I am intrigued to see how it will be explained.
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In philosophy, relativism has to deal with whether or not things have *intrinsic* properties. For example, when we say that a thing is evil does that mean that is has evil as an objective property (i.e., everyone who can fully understand it can observe something about it and agree that it is evil) or are we only able to define it as evil from our own relative perspective (i.e., we define it as evil because it has properties we find objectionable, but there are other perspectives from which those same properties could reasonably not be considered evil)? As an alternative example: does gold have an *intrinsic* value (i.e., it has value simply by being gold) or does it only have value because we can do something useful with it (make use of its conductive properties or exchange it for goods and services)?
Relativism takes the approach that these things are *not* intrinsic properties and thus must be understood in their relative contexts. In order to examine the nature of evil, you must first ask *from whose perspective?* The opposite side of the spectrum from relativism is Absolutism, which holds that these things *are* intrinsic properties that can be understood objectively, without reference to a particular culture or viewpoint.
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