− | The [[concept]] of '''relevance''' is studied in many different fields, including [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cognitive_science cognitive sciences], [[logic]] and library and [[information science]]. Most fundamentally, however, it is studied in [[epistemology]] (the theory of [[knowledge]]). Different theories of knowledge have different implications for what is considered relevant and these fundamental views have implications for all other fields as well. | + | The [[concept]] of '''relevance''' is studied in many different fields, including [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cognitive_science cognitive sciences], [[logic]] and library and [[information science]]. Most fundamentally, however, it is studied in [[epistemology]] (the theory of [[knowledge]]). Different theories of knowledge have different implications for what is considered relevant and these fundamental views have implications for all other fields as well. |
− | During the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1960's 1960s], relevance became a [[fashionable]] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buzzword buzzword], meaning roughly 'relevance to [[social]] concerns', such as racial equality, [[poverty]], social [[justice]], world [[hunger]], world economic development, and so on. The implication was that some subjects, e.g., the [[study]] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medieval_poetry medieval poetry] and the [[practice]] of corporate law, were not worthwhile because they did not address pressing social issues. | + | During the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1960's 1960s], relevance became a [[fashionable]] [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buzzword buzzword], meaning roughly 'relevance to [[social]] concerns', such as racial equality, [[poverty]], social [[justice]], world [[hunger]], world economic development, and so on. The implication was that some subjects, e.g., the [[study]] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medieval_poetry medieval poetry] and the [[practice]] of corporate law, were not worthwhile because they did not address pressing social issues. |
− | The [[meaning]] of "relevance" in U.S. law is reflected in Rule 401 of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Rules_of_Evidence Federal Rules of Evidence]. That rule defines relevance as "having any tendency to make the [[existence]] of any [[fact]] that is of consequence to the determination of the [[action]] more probable or less probable than it would be without the [[evidence]]." In other words, if a [[fact]] were to have no bearing on the [[truth]] or [[falsity]] of a [[conclusion]], it would be legally irrelevant.[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Relevance] | + | The [[meaning]] of "relevance" in U.S. law is reflected in Rule 401 of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Rules_of_Evidence Federal Rules of Evidence]. That rule defines relevance as "having any tendency to make the [[existence]] of any [[fact]] that is of consequence to the determination of the [[action]] more probable or less probable than it would be without the [[evidence]]." In other words, if a [[fact]] were to have no bearing on the [[truth]] or [[falsity]] of a [[conclusion]], it would be legally irrelevant.[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Relevance] |