Judged: two independent readers; copy check clear.

universality

universality In this historical philosophical usage, universality is the general form of the moral law: a principle is to be acted on only if one could will it to hold as a universal law.

In this historical philosophical usage, universality is the general form of the moral law: a principle is to be acted on only if one could will it to hold as a universal law. Here it refers to the unconditional, exceptionless character expressed in Kant’s categorical imperative.

Also see

Sources

Drafting source: Baldwin Dictionary of Philosophy and Psychology, 1901. 1901 New York Macmillan original; archive index checked 2026-10-18. “Categorical Imperative” (Categorical Imperative).
public-domain-US · Definition uses new wording; original source retains its stated licence. · Source snapshot SHA-256: 2682b8a8b783134f7400271f12cb4dd19d045a1b52bd2831deb93e6cfbb8792c

These citations identify the drafting sources. 2/2 independent reader passes against the pinned source packet. The drafter does not count as a reader. Source institutions do not endorse this dictionary.

Cite this entry

PsychTerms (psychterms.org), CC BY 4.0, version 1. “universality.” Development preview.

Version 1 · SHA-256: 0773f512845f2bfe135d574f206346f393a3b56b94a19b6c87352775e1098b35

Edit this entry on GitHub