Universality and Social Justice
Faculty Department
Philosophy
Presentation Type
Powerpoint
Location
Larini Room
Start Date
25-2-2026 12:15 PM
End Date
25-2-2026 12:35 PM
Description (Abstract)
The main thesis of my research is that “universality” is a liberating and emancipatory principle that ought to be utilized in socio-political movements for social justice. This is a unique approach to the issue of social justice for two reasons: (1) following the post-WWII critique of the Enlightenment, specifically Horkheimer and Adorno from the Frankfurter Schule, universality has been viewed as an oppressive principle of exclusion that marginalizes diverse cultural groups. Against this, I argue that universality, primarily focusing on universal equality, is an inclusive principle that could help to liberate and emancipate marginalized groups. As one example, I show that the Women’s Suffrage and Abolition movements in the 19th century as well as the Civil Rights movement in the 20th century appropriated and utilized the universal equality clause in The Declaration of Independence as a principle of inclusion in their respective struggles for social justice. (2) The prevailing view today is that social justice issues can only be effectively addressed from the standpoint of particularity through the affirmation of particular cultural identities. Contrary to some advocates of university, specifically Todd McGowen in his book Universality and Identity Politics, I make it abundantly clear in my research that “identity politics” is an essential part of the struggle for social justice. I argue that identity politics, as a liberation movement that advocates for marginalized groups of people, is compatible with universality. However, I also address the limits of identity politics and the problems associated with these limits when it rejects universality as a legitimate approach to address social justice issues. Ultimately, I argue that universals like universal equality can positively contribute to the overall goal of identity politics to achieve social justice both in the US and the global community. Philosophically, what makes my position unique is that I reconcile universality and particularity instead of denying one at the expense of the other.
Keywords
Universality, Particularity, Social Justice
Related Pillar(s)
Study
Universality and Social Justice
Larini Room
The main thesis of my research is that “universality” is a liberating and emancipatory principle that ought to be utilized in socio-political movements for social justice. This is a unique approach to the issue of social justice for two reasons: (1) following the post-WWII critique of the Enlightenment, specifically Horkheimer and Adorno from the Frankfurter Schule, universality has been viewed as an oppressive principle of exclusion that marginalizes diverse cultural groups. Against this, I argue that universality, primarily focusing on universal equality, is an inclusive principle that could help to liberate and emancipate marginalized groups. As one example, I show that the Women’s Suffrage and Abolition movements in the 19th century as well as the Civil Rights movement in the 20th century appropriated and utilized the universal equality clause in The Declaration of Independence as a principle of inclusion in their respective struggles for social justice. (2) The prevailing view today is that social justice issues can only be effectively addressed from the standpoint of particularity through the affirmation of particular cultural identities. Contrary to some advocates of university, specifically Todd McGowen in his book Universality and Identity Politics, I make it abundantly clear in my research that “identity politics” is an essential part of the struggle for social justice. I argue that identity politics, as a liberation movement that advocates for marginalized groups of people, is compatible with universality. However, I also address the limits of identity politics and the problems associated with these limits when it rejects universality as a legitimate approach to address social justice issues. Ultimately, I argue that universals like universal equality can positively contribute to the overall goal of identity politics to achieve social justice both in the US and the global community. Philosophically, what makes my position unique is that I reconcile universality and particularity instead of denying one at the expense of the other.
Short Biography
Dr. Ponzer is a Professor of Philosophy who has taught at Molloy University since 2007. He is the Director of the Molloy University Honors Program and an enthusiastic participant in International Education. His research interests, rooted in Hegelian dialectics, involve topics of global citizenship, social justice, the history of philosophy, and the role of the concept of universality therein.