Written by the Fiveable Content Team โข Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 examโขWritten by the Fiveable Content Team โข Last updated September 2025
Definition
Universal principles refer to ethical standards or rules that apply universally across cultures and societies. They are considered fundamental truths about right and wrong that transcend cultural differences.
Related terms
Ethical relativism: This is the belief that moral judgments and principles are subjective and vary from culture to culture.
Moral absolutism: This is the belief that there are objective and universal moral truths that should be followed by all individuals.
Golden Rule: The Golden Rule is a principle found in many cultures and religions, stating that one should treat others as they would like to be treated themselves.