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The Great Man theory is a philosophical belief first espoused by Scottish writer, philosopher, and historian Thomas Carlyle in his 1840 book Heroes, Hero-Worship, and the Heroic in History. The Great Man theory follows from a long tradition of hero worship in which the virtues and deeds of remarkable individuals are honored and emulated. Carlyle believed that world history was primarily the result of the deeds of great men—heroes, kings, politicians, poets, and others. He believed the greatness of these people was inborn rather than learned from society or developed through practice, and it superseded the flaws and pettiness of other contemporary people. Carlyle's Great Man enlightened his surroundings and rose to achieve great goals when and where he was most needed. Although the theory met with early support, by the middle of the twentieth century it had weakened under the weight of behavioral science and de-emphasis of classical heroic virtues.

Universal prescriptivism is the theory that judgments are imperative statements that people should follow. To adhere to the theory, a judgment must be worded so that it universally applies to all people. It must also be believed and adhered to by the person who has made the judgment. The theory of universal prescriptivism was first introduced by the British philosopher R.H. Hare in his 1952 book The Language of Morals. In the twenty-first century, the theory of universal prescriptivism is widely criticized for not considering a person’s will in carrying out a moral imperative and because it is possible for an immoral statement to meet the criteria of universal prescriptivism.