Moral universalism is a humanist view that claims that the fundamental basis for a universalist ethic —'universally' applicable to all humanity—can be derived or inferred from what is common among existing moral codes. It stands as a compromise between moral absolutism, and moral relativism, where situational human factors, like culture, dictate moral value.

Moral universalism finds that moral actions are tied to the act itself, not regardless of the cultural context, but in respect of the basic ethical standards that exist in all cultures. As there are those not bound by the Judaic Ten Commandments, or Eastern religious traditions, and since there is substantial disagreement between people of different religious traditions, a standard which describes the essence of all human moral thought is considered a necessity. A universal morality applies to all people in a secular way without basing its ideology in religious traditions.

The world court , human rights, international law, and crimes against humanity are all new terms that are part of global efforts to bring a universalist, equal, and common moral justice to all peoples.

There, is however, some form of universal absolutism as a moral stance, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights being an example of this.

See also felicific calculus, ethical calculus, John Stuart Mill, Jeremy Bentham.