Absoluteness

Absoluteness refers to the quality of being absolute, independent of context, perspective, or interpretation. It denotes properties, facts, or norms that do not vary with individuals, cultures, or theoretical frameworks.

In ethics, moral absolutism asserts that certain actions are right or wrong in all circumstances. This position contrasts with moral relativism and contextualism, which tie moral judgments to cultural norms, purposes, or particular situations. In epistemology, absolutism can denote claims of universal justification or the belief that some standards hold across cultures and times.

In logic and mathematics, absoluteness describes truth that is preserved under transformations or across models. Basic arithmetic facts, such as 2+2=4, are typically treated as absolute within standard arithmetic. In set theory, absoluteness is a technical term for statements that remain true in all forcing extensions or inner models, with examples including Shoenfield and Levy absoluteness results.

Critics argue that many domains are inherently context-sensitive and culturally situated, questioning the applicability of absoluteness outside formal systems. The term is thus most useful as a methodological ideal or in reference to specific, well-defined domains rather than as a general epistemic or ethical stance.