Moral universalism is a moral view, often related to humanist philosophy, which claims that the fundamental basis for a universalist ethic—'universally' applicable to all humanity—can be derived or inferred from what is common among existing moral codes. It stands as a compromise between moral absolutism, and moral relativism, where situational human factors, like culture, dictate moral value. Morality, in the strictest sense of the word, deals with that which is regarded as right or wrong. ... Humanism is a broad category of active ethical philosophies that affirm the dignity and worth of all people, based on our ability to determine what is right using the qualities innate to humanity, particularly rationality. ... ... In philosophy, moral relativism is the position that moral or ethical propositions do not reflect absolute and universal moral truths but instead are relative to social, cultural, historical or personal references, and that there is no single standard by which to assess an ethical propositions truth. ... Situational ethics (also known as Situationism) refers to a particular view of ethics,faggot that states: (J. Fletcher, Situation Ethics (Westminster, Philadelphia, 1966). ...

Moral universalism finds that moral actions are tied to the act itself, not regardless of the cultural context, but in respect of the basic ethical standards that exist in all cultures. As there are those not bound by the Judaic Ten Commandments, or Eastern religious traditions, and since there is substantial disagreement between people of different religious traditions, a standard which describes the essence of all human moral thought is considered a necessity. A universal morality applies to all people in a secular way without basing its ideology in religious traditions. For a discussion of Jews as an ethnicity or ethnic group see the article on Jew. ... The Ten Commandments on a monument on the grounds of the Texas State Capitol This 1768 parchment (612x502 mm) by Jekuthiel Sofer emulated 1675 decalogue at the Esnoga synagogue of Amsterdam The Ten Commandments, or Decalogue, are a list of religious and moral imperatives which, according to religious tradition, were... This article concerns secularity, that is, being secular, in various senses. ...

The world court, human rights, international law, and crimes against humanity are all new terms that are part of global efforts to bring a universalist, equal, and common moral justice to all peoples. The World Court refers collectively to the Permanent Court of International Justice (PCIJ) and its successor the International Court of Justice (ICJ). ... Human rights are rights which some hold to be inalienable and belonging to all humans. ... International law, is the body of law that regulates the activities of entities possessing international personality. Traditionally, that meant the conduct and relationships of states. ... This article is in need of attention. ...

There is, however, some form of universal absolutism as a moral stance, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights being an example of this. Wikisource has original text related to this article: Universal Declaration of Human Rights The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (also UDHR) is a declaration adopted by the United Nations General Assembly (A/RES/217, December 10, 1948 at Palais de Chaillot, Paris), outlining the organizations view on the human...

Moral Universalism first appeared as a formalized ethical theory amongst the Stoics of ancient Greece (it continues to be a central premise within modern Stoicism, as well). Stoics believe in the supremacy of some form of divine plan or natural order which stands inviolable and according to which everything happens. According to Stoic ethical philosophy, the existence of immoral men and the perpetration of immoral activities is all part of the natural or divine order of the universe, however, the existence of immorality in the world can solely be attributed to a lack of understanding of or regard for the divine order of the universe: immorality is perpetrated only by those who are either under the false judgements that they are in fact acting ethically, or by those who simply have a lack of healthy respect for proper ethical concerns. Although Moral Universalism, as an idea, has evolved much from its origins in Stoicism, it continues to find its greatest wellspring of philosophical support in that school of thought. Stoicism is a school of philosophy commonly associated with such Greek philosophers as Zeno of Citium, Cleanthes, or Chrysippus and with such later Romans as Cicero, Seneca, Marcus Aurelius, and Epictetus. ...

See also

• Felicific calculus
• Ethical calculus
• John Stuart Mill
• Jeremy Bentham
• Stoicism