Which moral rules are found in nearly all societies?

Empirical studies in morality indicate that while moral codes vary across cultures, virtually all societies share certain fundamental rules necessary for human coexistence and communication. These nearly universal moral norms include prohibitions against murder, theft, adultery, and incest.12

Furthermore, societies consistently establish norms regarding truth telling and promise keeping. Anthropologists observe that such values are essential for the existence of a society; for instance, without rules requiring truthfulness, meaningful communication would be impossible, and without prohibitions against violence, individuals could not live together safely.12

While ethical relativism argues that moral truths are not absolute, critics of the doctrine emphasize that these common values serve as a background of agreement, suggesting that human societies share a foundational set of moral requirements regardless of their specific cultural differences.2