For those who may not be familiar with the term, absolutism refers to the philosophical position that there is a natural order that must be followed by humans in all situations, including government. Absolutism can also refer to:
absolute monarchy, wherein a king rules unchecked without interference or other formally legalized checks upon the actions of his subjects; especially during the time c. 1610. In some instances, absolutism can also mean “absurdity”. For example, a government that abolishes its constitution and checks and balances is considered to be an absolutist government. Aristotle, one of the most influential philosophers in the history of Western philosophy, defined absolutism as: “the doctrine that there is a natural order to be observed in human actions and institutions, and that it tends to endure rather than be replaced by any sudden, radical, and unnatural authority.”
In the first sense, absolutism seems to be stating the fact that there is no general rule or dictate that can be applied to all situations. It follows that there is no interpretation of the world that must be accepted on its own terms. For example, a sentence such as “All men are mortal” could be interpreted as “The only men who are mortal are those who die naturally.” The first sense of absolutism often arises in arguments concerning rape and murder. Some philosophers argue that the act of rape is morally reprehensible regardless of the circumstance, while others hold that a society’s laws must apply to all people equally regardless of gender, race, or circumstances.
The second sense of absolutism contrasts with absolute moral responsibility. Absolute moral responsibility requires that we answer every single moral dilemma with a Yes/No answer, whereas absolutism allows us to choose the options open to us. It would be difficult for a person to lie if there were no moral considerations to be made. Absolutism thus conflicts with the view that moral reasoning requires absolute certainty.