One of the things I’m finding in my exploration of the ism universe is that there’s a good deal of passion that is implicit in the words, and a certain amount of emphatic certainty.

Take, for example, our hero of the day, Absolutism.

m-w.com says of absolutism:

Main Entry: ab·so·lut·ism
Pronunciation: ‘ab-s&-”lü-”ti-z&m
Function: noun
1 a : a political theory that absolute power should be vested in one or more rulers b : government by an absolute ruler or authority : DESPOTISM
2 : advocacy of a rule by absolute standards or principles
3 : an absolute standard or principle

Can you get much more passionate than that?

This principle is absolute!  Not to be challenged!

This leader is a despot!  Hang him!

This rule is to be followed to the letter!  DO NOT WAIVER!!

Ahem.  I get a little excited just thinking about such a stringently important word.  But then, I’m a bit of a pitiful nerd.

Let’s take a look at what wikipedia has to say about absolutism:

Absolutism can mean:
Absolute truth, the contention that in a particular domain of thought, all statements in that domain are either absolutely true or absolutely false
Absolutism (European history), a period in European history starting in the 16th century. It is characterized by the end of the feudal balance, consolidation of power in the monarch, rise of the unified state, and decrease in influence of nobility.

See, that’s why I like looking at the real definitions, then checking out what the average Joe has to say.  You probably won’t find too many lexicographers on wikipedia.

The absolute truth.  The absolute lie.  It’s all in absolutism.

I like the word absolutism, because I like to believe it’s possible for things to be absolute: I will absolutely make a million dollars today.  My wife will absolutely think I look sexy in my basketball shorts, and wrestle me down on our neatly-made bed.  We shall see.

Here’s an absolutism for you: the world will absolutely continue to be both a cesspool and the most amazing place in the known universe.