universalistic
universalistic
UK[ˌjuːnɪvɜːsəˈlɪstɪk]US[ˌjuːnɪvɜːrsəˈlɪstɪk]
adj
relating to or advocating the belief that all religions, cultures, or moral principles are equally valid or can be unified under a single system.
adj
relating to the philosophical doctrine that ideas, truths, or values have universal application.
Morpheme Breakdown
univers
al
istic
univers
whole
al
relating to
istic
characterized by
Etymology
the word 'universalistic' is built upon the core latin root 'universus', which itself is a compound of 'unus' (one) and 'versus' (turned), literally meaning 'turned into one' or 'whole'. this root gives rise to the concept of the universe as a single, all-encompassing entity and to the adjective 'universal'. the suffix '-al' attaches to form the adjective, and '-istic' is then added to create an adjective describing adherence to a doctrine or principle of universality. thus, the term's logic moves from the ancient idea of oneness and totality to the modern abstract principle that certain truths, values, or systems apply comprehensively to all people, cultures, or contexts.
Analysis
Structure: univers (whole) + al (relating to) + istic (characterized by)
univers (from latin 'universus', meaning whole, entire, all together), al (latin adjectival suffix meaning 'of, relating to'), istic (english suffix forming adjectives, often from nouns ending in -ist, meaning 'characterized by, pertaining to').
Examples
his universalistic approach to ethics sought principles that would be valid for every culture.
some critics argue that a universalistic framework fails to respect local traditions and differences.
the philosopher's universalistic claims about human rights were debated internationally.