The idea of "universal" values runs beneath a lot of our political dialogue. Dominique Möisi, whose work we discussed last week, argues the U.S. and Europe must again believe in the universality of our values but that we must practice rather than preach them. In his press conference Monday, President Obama offered specific examples of universal values, such as peaceful assembly and dissent.
Universality has a mixed history and has too often been a pretext for imperialism. Its philosophical complement, relativism, has an equally mixed history and has too often been merely self-satisfied disinterest in others' suffering. Is it true that "No man is free if another remains in chains?" Or should we "Live and let live?"
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