Moral absolutism

Moral absolutism is the position that there are absolute standards against which moral questions can be judged, and that certain actions are right or wrong, regardless of the context of the act. It is a subset of moral objectivism, and stands in contrast to situational ethics, which hold that the morality of acts depends on the context of the act.

Related Topics:
Absolute standard - Moral questions - Judged - Moral objectivism - Situational ethics

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According to moral absolutism, morals are inherent in the laws of the universe, the nature of humanity, or some other fundamental source.

Related Topics:
Moral - Laws of the universe - Nature of humanity - Fundamental

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Moral absolutism regards actions as inherently or inarguably moral or immoral. Moral absolutists might, for example, judge slavery, war, dictatorship, the death penalty, or childhood abuse to be absolutely and inarguably immoral regardless of the beliefs and goals of a culture that engages in these practices.

Related Topics:
Moral - Immoral - Slavery - War - Dictatorship - Death penalty - Childhood abuse

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In a minority of cases, moral absolutism is taken to the more constrained position that actions are moral or immoral regardless of the circumstances in which they occur. Lying, for instance, would always be immoral, even if done to promote some other good (e.g., saving a life). This rare view of moral absolutism might be contrasted with moral consequentialism—the view that the morality of an action depends on the context or consequences of that action.

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Modern human rights theory is a form of moral absolutism, usually based on the nature of humanity and the essence of human nature. One such theory was constructed by John Rawls in his A Theory of Justice.

Related Topics:
Human rights - John Rawls - A Theory of Justice

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