What does "basic" mean? [closed]

Question

What does "basic" in the dialogue below mean?

A: "Some version of the Golden Rule can be found in every culture in the world. It's universal."
B: "I guess it really is that basic."

Answer 1

Basic is something which is fundamental, or forms the simple basis or foundation of something - in this case the moral code of every civilization in the world.

Answer 2

In common parlance, basic is often used (somewhat figuratively) to mean simple, but in OP's context it's:

basic of, pertaining to, or forming a base; fundamental:
e.g. - a basic principle; the basic ingredient.

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Note this usage, which clearly shows that not all basic concepts are simple...

I believe that most neurobiologists and most of contemporary science agree the quantum theory is basic and should be the foundation of neuroscience

To paraphrase Niels Bohr - anyone who thinks quantum theory is simple has not understood it.