Universalitet

Universalitet (universality) refers to the quality of being universal or applicable everywhere, across contexts, times, or systems. It describes ideas, laws, or constructs that are intended to hold broadly rather than in a limited, particular case.

In philosophy and logic, universality involves universals, general terms, and universal propositions such as “all S are P,” as well as universal quantification (for all). The problem of universals, debates about whether properties exist independently of things, and how universal concepts relate to particular instances have shaped centuries of inquiry.

In mathematics and theoretical computer science, universal concepts denote constructions that apply across a wide range of objects. A universal property characterizes a unique relationship that holds for all relevant objects. A universal Turing machine can simulate any other Turing machine, illustrating a formal sense of universality in computation.

In physics, universality refers to features that do not depend on microscopic details. Universality classes group systems that share the same large‑scale behavior near critical points, while scale invariance and universal laws point to fundamental patterns observable across different materials and conditions.

In the social sciences and design, cultural universals are features found in many human societies, such as forms of language or family structure, though interpretations vary. Universal design aims to create products, environments, and services usable by people with diverse abilities and ages, promoting broad accessibility.

Ethically and philosophically, universalism advocates claims or rights regarded as applicable to all humans, in contrast to relativism. The term is used across disciplines to indicate broad applicability rather than local or particular relevance.