Universalism vs Particularism

Particularism VS Universalism

Julieta Ernesto

Start

Last class we discussed the differences between PARTICULARISM and UNIVERSALISM. To understand these concepts, the teachers gave us a very good example.

Julieta Ernesto

What would you do?

You are riding in a car with your friend driving. You see that he is driving faster than the speed limit and then he hits someone walking. The person is not badly hurt, just a little bruised. The policeman asks you how fast your friend was driving, and whether he was going faster than the speed limit.

Julieta Ernesto

What would Universalists and Particularists do?

Universalists: Would tell the truth because they think that to be fair you have to treat everyone alike and not make any exceptions for your family and your friends. They believe that you must follow all the rules.

Particularists: Would "save" their friend because they think you have to treat every particular situation depending on its circumstances. They believe that what is right in one case is not always right in other cases. They also make a division between their ingroups and outgroups, so they would tend to treat their family and friends the best they can.

Julieta Ernesto

Thanks!

15-07-2021