Souleymane Bachir Diagne In conversation with Mame Fatou-Niang and Thomas Dodman
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The concept of universalism, and its relationship with cultural pluralism, has been a central theme in Souleymane Bachir Diagne’s academic work as a philosopher, and in his public engagement and debates on this important subject. In this newest essay, Universaliser: L’humanité par les voies d’humanité, he argues that universalism can be conceived as a dialogue among different cultures in a way that recognizes and values these differences as equal contributions to the whole. No region in the world can claim to define universalism and impose its definition on the rest of the world. Thinking about humanity as a whole is infinitely difficult, and it requires a philosophy of de-centering and the elimination of cultural hierarchies to forge together, as equals, a collective conception of the universal.
At a time when ethnonationalism, tribal identities, and the violent domination of some countries and peoples over others are rising all around us, Souleymane Bachir Diagne retains his faith in humanity and defends universalism as a collective project for all humanity.
Souleymane Bachir Diagne is Professor Philosophy and French at Columbia University.
Mame-Fatou Niang is Associate Professor of French Studies, the Founder | Director of the Center for Black European Studies at Carnegie Mellon University.
Thomas Dodman is Associate Professor of French and Director of the History and Literature Program at Columbia University.