The Oxford Companion to Philosophy, 1995

ABSOLUTE, the. That which has an unconditioned existence, not conditioned by, relative to, or dependent upon anything else. Usually deemed to be the whole of things, conceived as unitary, as spiritual, as self-knowing (at least in part via the human mind), and as rationally intelligible, as finite things, considered individually, are not. The expression was introduced into philosophy by Schelling and Hegel. In the English-speaking world it became the key concept of such absolute idealists as Josiah Royce and F. H. Bradley.

ChatGPT 5.2 prompt: the absolute, definition in philosophy

In philosophy, the Absolute refers to an ultimate, unconditional reality that is self-sufficient, independent, and not relative to anything else.
Core points, across traditions:
• It is not dependent on causes, relations, or perspectives.
• It is complete in itself; nothing stands outside it.
• It is often taken as the ground of all being, truth, or meaning.
How this plays out in major traditions:
• German Idealism (Hegel):
The Absolute is the totality of reality understood as a rational whole. It unfolds historically through thought, nature, and spirit. “The Absolute” is not static but self-developing.
• Spinoza:
The Absolute is God or Nature (Deus sive Natura) — a single infinite substance of which everything else is a mode. No transcendence, no personal will.
• Neoplatonism:
The Absolute (the One) is beyond being and thought. Everything emanates from it, but it cannot be fully described.
• Religious philosophy:
Often identified with God, understood not as a personal agent but as ultimate reality itself.
Contrast to keep clear:
• Relative things depend on context, relations, or observers.
• The Absolute does not.
In short:
The Absolute is what does not need explanation by anything else. Whether such a thing exists is a separate question—and a contested one.

Wikipedia

In philosophy (often specifically metaphysics), the absolute, in most common usage, is an absolute perfect, self-sufficient reality that depends upon nothing external to itself. In theology, the term is also used to designate the supreme being or God. While the notion of the absolute varies across traditions and thinkers, it generally signifies something that transcends all forms of limitation, relativity, and contingency.

The term “absolute” is derived from the Latin word absolutus, meaning “set free, detached, or unrestricted.” In philosophical discourse, it refers to something that is unconditioned, independent, and ultimate. It suggests a reality that is beyond all forms of relativity and remains complete in and of itself.

• Absolute as Perfection: The absolute is often conceived as a state of perfect being or existence.
• Absolute as Self-Sufficiency: It is entirely self-contained, requiring no external cause or condition.
• Absolute as Ultimate Reality: It is often equated with the ultimate ground of existence or the highest metaphysical principle.

Find the rest here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Absolute_(philosophy) 

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