[robertpaulsen]

"Could you please give define what the opposite of moral relativism is? Thanks."

Moral absolutism, which sees morals as fixed by an absolute. This absolute is usually religion.

If your absolute is not religion but the universe itself, then that is called Objectivism (Ayn Rand's philosophy).

Moral Objectivism defines moral behavior as that which tends to promote our survival as rational beings. Immoral behavior is that which tends to promote our destruction. Where survival is not at issue, moral behavior will tend to promote security and happiness, immoral behavior insecurity and unhappiness. Religion is not an issue.

There's a very good summary here.

[exmarine]

Moral absolutism, which sees morals as fixed by an absolute. This absolute is usually religion.

If your absolute is not religion but the universe itself, then that is called Objectivism (Ayn Rand's philosophy).

This is incorrect. Moral absolutes do not come from religion, they flow directly from God Himself -they are PERSONAL in nature and come from a PERSON. The universe is a non-entity (not alive) and it is non-rational in the extreme to believe that morals can come from a non-entity. You might as well say that morals come from a tree! Ayn Rand's philosophy comes from HERSELF and it is relativistic (relative to HER).

[exmarine]

Moral Objectivism defines moral behavior as that which tends to promote our survival as rational beings. Immoral behavior is that which tends to promote our destruction. Where survival is not at issue, moral behavior will tend to promote security and happiness, immoral behavior insecurity and unhappiness. Religion is not an issue.

Really? Isn't sex outside of marriage detrimental to one's security and happiness? No doubt about it - yes. Ayn Rand had no qualms about that did she?

[stuartcr]

Could you give me a definition of a moral absolute please?