Absolutism and Relativism

Two dimensions: epistemological and ethical—

Epistemological
        · Absolutism—the view that there is a universal standard of truth; what
          is true or false depends on what the facts are, not on what individuals or
          societies believe to be true.

        · Relativism—the view that there is no universal standard of truth; what is
          true or false depends on what individuals or societies believe to be true.

Ethical/Moral
        · Absolutism—the view that there is a universal standard of right and
          wrong, good and bad, etc.; what is right and wrong, good and bad, etc.
          does not depend on what individuals or societies believe to be right and
          wrong, good and bad, etc.

        · Relativism—the view that there is no universal standard of right and
          wrong, good and bad, etc.: what is right and wrong, good and bad, etc.
          depends in some way on what individuals or societies believe to be right
          and wrong, good and bad, etc.