universal law
Everywhere-binding rule
Universal law refers to a principle believed to govern all things without exception—across all times, places, and circumstances.
In philosophy and religion, universal laws are moral or metaphysical truths held to apply to everyone: the universal law of karma, Kant's universal law of morality.
In physics, universal laws describe consistent natural phenomena: the universal law of gravitation.
The term often carries weight in arguments claiming something is fundamental rather than arbitrary or culturally specific.
- divine lawRules from deity
- higher powerTranscendent spiritual entity
- divine orderGod's arrangement of existence
- categorical imperativeUnconditional ethical obligation
- lawBinding principle or regulation
law of nature · laws of physics · morality · moral code · natural law · karmic law · justice · dharma · ethics · duty · moral philosophy · human dignity · autonomy · principle · moral obligation · maxim · first principle · commandment
- principlesprinciple, ethics, tenet, morals, axiom
- ethicsmorality, deontology, dignity, sanctity of life, utilitarianism
- cosmic ordercelestial order, cosmic balance, cosmic law, divine plan, natural law
- Dharmadharma, sacred duty, religious duty, righteousness, moral law
- KantKant, categorical imperative, a priori, thing-in-itself, noumena
- Kantian ethicscategorical imperative, Kant, moral law, good will, practical reason
universal lawlocal ordinance
Rule enacted by municipality
city ordinance · municipal code · national law · state law · bylaws
universal lawsocial construct
Collectively maintained abstraction
cultural norm · custom · tradition · legal fiction · contractual obligation
lawyer, outlaw, lawful, universal, lawless, lawsuit, lawfully, in-law, universally