Which philosophical movement is characterized by confidence in absolutes and rational behavior?

The correct answer is Modernism. This philosophical movement is marked by a strong belief in the power of human reason and the pursuit of absolute truths. Modernism emerged during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, seeking to establish a sense of certainty in a rapidly changing world through rational thought, scientific inquiry, and a trust in progress. Advocates of modernism typically focus on ideas that promote objectivity, universal narratives, and the notion that human beings can understand and improve the world through rational analysis.

In contrast, relativism questions the existence of any universal truths, suggesting that knowledge and morality are contextual and dependent on individual or cultural perspectives. Postmodernism, which developed after modernism, challenges the very absolutes and grand narratives that modernism upheld, favoring instead ambiguity and the multiplicity of interpretations. Empiricism relates to the theory that knowledge is primarily rooted in sensory experience, but it does not inherently convey the same confidence in absolutes or rationality that characterizes modernist thought.