What would be required of a theoretical practice for it to be premised on a genuine commitment to universal equality?

by Michelle Morgan, 2012

This essay serves to discuss what would be required of a theoretical practice for it to be premised on a genuine commitment to universal equality. I will argue, in line with Jacques Ranciere (2006), that for this to be achieved a theoretical practice has to start from the point of equality, a genuine equality in which each and every human being is respected in being able to think and act for themselves. The point of departure of this theoretical practice has to be equality of every human being, equality of intelligence and status. Therefore, such a principled theory would have to form part of an emancipatory political project, which arguably can only be realised though a genuine commitment to universal equality. Furthermore, for this equality to be truly universal it has to be part of a dialectical approach which is premised in theory that is specific as opposed to singular.