In ethics, there are two main type of relativism. Descriptive ethical relativism simply claims as a matter of fact that different people have different moral beliefs, but it takes no stand on whether those beliefs are valid or not. Normative ethical relativism claims that each culture’s (or group’s) beliefs are right within that culture, and that it is impossible to validly judge another culture’s values from the outside.

Rights are entitlements to do something without interference from other people (negative rights) or entitlements that obligate others to do something positive to assist you (positive rights). Some rights (natural rights, human rights) belong to everyone by nature or simply by virtue of being human; some rights (legal rights) belong to people by virtue of their membership in a particular political state; other rights (moral rights) are based in acceptance of a particular moral theory. Since 2001 the Human Rights Act has been passed into UK law, allowing every citizen to appeal to the European Court of Human Rights at the Hague.

A rule utilitarian holds that happiness is best maximised by following a set of rules, such as the rules governing a fair trial, promise-keeping, and respect for individual property and rights. Some argue for a multi-level utilitarianism, whereby rules are kept except in cases of conflict (such as preservation of life v. reduction of pain) when act utilitarian principles apply.