Abstract

Though students of Becker's thought have asserted that his relativism was independently derived from the influence of pragmatism, they have not specifically identified these pragmatist sources. It appears that Becker derived his views from Benedetto Croce, although he did not acknowledge this source; there are seven substantial identities between Croce's and Becker's theories of historical relativism. In fact, Becker's earliest statement of his position.is so similar to Croce's previously published Estetica that Becker can be accused of ideological plagiarism