Legal Definitions - moral absolutism

moral absolutism

Moral absolutism is an ethical viewpoint that asserts certain actions are inherently right or wrong, universally and without exception. This perspective holds that the moral quality of an action is fixed and does not change based on the specific circumstances, the cultural context, or the consequences that might result from it.

• Scenario: Lying to Protect
  A person believes that telling a lie is always morally wrong, regardless of the situation. For instance, if they were hiding an innocent person from a dangerous pursuer and were directly asked about the person's whereabouts, a moral absolutist would still contend that lying to protect the innocent person is an inherently wrong act.
  Explanation: This illustrates moral absolutism because the act of lying is judged as wrong in itself, irrespective of the dire circumstances or the potentially life-saving consequences of the lie. The inherent wrongness of the action takes precedence over any situational factors or outcomes.
• Scenario: Theft for Survival
  An individual holds the belief that stealing is always wrong. If a parent, facing extreme poverty, steals food to prevent their child from starving, a moral absolutist would still maintain that the act of stealing is morally impermissible. The desperate circumstances and the positive outcome of feeding the child do not alter the fundamental wrongness of the theft itself.
  Explanation: This demonstrates moral absolutism by asserting that the act of theft is wrong in itself, regardless of the extreme need or the beneficial outcome for the child. The moral rule against stealing is considered universal and unbreakable.