Relativism or Absolutism about truth?

Today a metaphysics classroom lecture became a classroom discussion which became a post-class debate. During the lecture we were looking at arguments for and against the possibility that truth is relative. Relativism about truth is the position that truth is dependent on some perspective. Absolutism about truth is the position that truth is independent of any perspective.
One kind of relativism is the position that whatever some person thinks or perceives is true for that person. This idea seems to strike a chord with a lot of people, perhaps because it allows them to get along more peacefully in a pluralistic society. Increasingly, we have to deal on a daily basis with people of diverse backgrounds, traditions, beliefs, etc. We appreciate those other perspectives, we recognize their value, and we do not wish to offend others. We may not agree with someone else's perspective, but when we try to look ot those other perspectives objectively we are often forced to admit that the foundations of those foreign perspectives are just about as solid as our own. When two perspectives conflict and both views seem to be equally supported, or at least neither can be refuted, it often seems to make sense to say that both are correct.

For instance, I look at a color swatch and to me it looks blue. Someone next to me looks at it and says, "What a lovely shade of purple." Well, which view is correct? Is the swatch blue or purple? Seems like we can't say - we both could probably make a really good case for our viewpoints if we tried - so, we say that both statements are true. To me, the swatch is blue. To the person next to me, the swatch is purple.

But is it really the case that the swatch is both blue and purple? Let's change the example a little bit. What if the person next to me says, "What a lovely shade of yellow." Is it still true that we are both correct? Relativism about truth says yes, the swatch really and truly is blue for me and yellow to the other person. (Assuming that both of us are sincere about what we see.) Our perceptions create reality.

I disagree with this kind of relativism, but I shall write about that another day.