| abstract | - Moral relativity or moral relativism is the idea that there is no absolute right or wrong, and that anyone can freely use his or her own conscience to decide what is moral. A moral relativist will not say that theft or murder is wrong, because he or she believes it is up to the murderer or thief to decide whether such behavior is justified. Moral relativity and related thinking can be what allows liberals to support abortion, gay rights, and drug abuse. The idea of moral relativity has no connection to (and substantially predates) Albert Einstein's theory of relativity. However, historian Paul Johnson wrote that the theory of relativity caused a sea change, justified or not, in 20th century thought because of its perceived connection with moral relativity.
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