What is the difference between Absolutism and Relativism?

Ethical absolutism holds that moral commands are true at all times. This means that they're true in all cultures and situations. Under this view, actions such as murder and stealing are seen as objectively wrong, regardless of their circumstance or results.Therefore, Absolutist moral theories are deontological, as they do not consider consequences. Examples of absolutist moral theories include Kant's Categorical Imperative and the Divine Command Theory.

In contrast, moral relativism views moral values as entirely relative to different societies and contexts. Therefore, whether an action is right can depend on the context (such as culture) in which it takes place. Relativist moral theories may consider the consequences of moral actions when deciding if they are right or wrong. These theories are therefore described as teleological. Examples of relativist moral theories include Classical Utilitarianism and Situation Ethics.