Legal Definitions - moral absolutism

Definition: Moral absolutism is the belief that certain actions are always right or wrong, regardless of the situation or the consequences. It is also known as ethical absolutism or objective ethics. This means that there are universal moral principles that apply to everyone, everywhere, and at all times.

Examples: Killing innocent people, stealing, and lying are considered morally wrong in all circumstances, according to moral absolutism. For instance, if someone believes in moral absolutism, they would argue that it is always wrong to kill an innocent person, even if it is done to save many lives. Similarly, they would argue that stealing is always wrong, even if it is done to feed a starving family.

Explanation: The examples illustrate the concept of moral absolutism because they show that certain actions are considered wrong regardless of the situation or the consequences. In other words, moral absolutists believe that there are some actions that are inherently wrong, and no amount of justification can make them right. This is because they believe that there are universal moral principles that apply to everyone, everywhere, and at all times.