universalisms
Beliefs for everyone
Universalisms are principles, doctrines, or beliefs held to apply to all people, places, or situations without exception.
The term often appears in philosophical or theological contexts: Critics argue that Western universalisms ignore cultural differences.
In theology, universalism specifically refers to the belief that all souls will eventually be saved.
The plural typically signals skepticism—treating supposed universal truths as contestable claims rather than self-evident facts.
Involving multiple societies
- multiculturalIncluding multiple ethnic traditions
- cosmopolitanCulturally sophisticated, internationally fluent
- commonalityShared characteristic among things
- shared valuesPrinciples held in common
human nature · archetypes · collective unconscious · folklore · mythology · kinship · taboos · rituals
Condensed version of text
- principlesFoundational moral beliefs
- doctrineEstablished body of teachings
- axiomSelf-evident starting principle
- postulateAssumed starting point
metaphysics · epistemology · ontology · paradigm · essentialism · transcendental · monism · absolutism
Extending across Earth
- planetaryOf or relating to worlds
- transnationalCrossing country lines
- internationalConcerning relations among countries
- interconnectedJoined in multiple ways
globalization · humanity · human rights · United Nations · declarations · conventions · common heritage · world citizenship
cross-cultural
Involving multiple societies
- multiculturalIncluding multiple ethnic traditions
- cosmopolitanCulturally sophisticated, internationally fluent
- commonalityShared characteristic among things
shared values · human nature · archetypes · collective unconscious · folklore · mythology · kinship · taboos · rituals · symbolism
abstract
Condensed version of text
- principlesFoundational moral beliefs
- doctrineEstablished body of teachings
- axiomSelf-evident starting principle
postulate · metaphysics · epistemology · ontology · paradigm · essentialism · transcendental · monism · absolutism · foundationalism
worldwide
Extending across Earth
- planetaryOf or relating to worlds
- transnationalCrossing country lines
- internationalConcerning relations among countries
interconnected · globalization · humanity · human rights · United Nations · declarations · conventions · common heritage · world citizenship · cosmopolitanism
universalismslocalisms
Region-specific vocabulary items
provincialisms · specificities · regionalisms · singularities · nationalisms
universalismscultural relativism
Understanding norms within their context
moral relativism · relativism · contextualism · subjectivism · historicism
universalismsidentity politics
Collective action via shared characteristics
nationalisms · tribalisms · communitarianism · sectarianisms · nativisms