{"id":31515,"date":"2026-06-09T09:12:34","date_gmt":"2026-06-09T07:12:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/montecarloliving.com\/?p=31515"},"modified":"2026-05-28T12:14:09","modified_gmt":"2026-05-28T10:14:09","slug":"rencontres-philosophiques-de-monaco-souleymane-bachir-diagne-on-universality-translation-and-plural-thought","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/montecarloliving.com\/en\/events\/rencontres-philosophiques-de-monaco-souleymane-bachir-diagne-on-universality-translation-and-plural-thought-31515\/","title":{"rendered":"Rencontres Philosophiques de Monaco: Souleymane Bachir Diagne on Universality, Translation and Plural Thought"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

The Rencontres Philosophiques de Monaco<\/strong> host a major conference by philosopher Souleymane Bachir Diagne<\/strong>, titled \u201cUniversalisme, universel et traduction\u201d<\/em> (\u201cUniversalism, the Universal and Translation\u201d), exploring one of the most pressing philosophical questions of our time: how to rethink the idea of the universal in a plural and post-colonial world.<\/p>\n

This conference is part of the prestigious Prix de la Principaut\u00e9<\/strong>, awarded in 2024 to Diagne for his entire philosophical work, in recognition of a career dedicated to rethinking the relationship between cultures, knowledge systems and forms of universality.<\/p>\n

\n

Souleymane Bachir Diagne and the challenge of universal thought<\/strong><\/h2>\n

In his lecture, Souleymane Bachir Diagne reflects on the legacy of Enlightenment philosophy and the critiques of colonial violence, warning against two common misunderstandings.<\/p>\n

First, he argues against reducing the critique of Enlightenment thinkers such as Kant into a total rejection of their thought. Second, he warns against concluding that the notion of the \u201cuniversal\u201d should be abandoned entirely as inherently imperial.<\/p>\n

Instead, Diagne proposes a more nuanced approach: a plural and dialogical universalism<\/strong>, built through encounters between languages, cultures and worldviews.<\/p>\n

\n

Universalism beyond empire: a philosophy of translation<\/strong><\/h2>\n

At the heart of the conference is a key idea: the universal should not be imposed from a single cultural center, but constructed through a process of continuous translation.<\/p>\n

For Diagne, translation is not merely linguistic\u2014it is philosophical. It represents a way of building a shared human space without erasing differences.<\/p>\n

This approach aligns with the idea of multilateral thinking<\/strong>, inspired by philosophers such as Maurice Merleau-Ponty, where meaning emerges through interaction rather than domination.<\/p>\n

\n

A universal rooted in plurality and dialogue<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The philosopher advocates for a form of universalism that emerges from the diversity of the world, where every culture and language is considered equal in value.<\/p>\n

Rather than isolating cultures into rigid identities or \u201cincommensurable\u201d blocks, Diagne defends the existence of a shared human space\u2014a common ground of humanity<\/strong>\u2014that translation helps to reveal and expand.<\/p>\n

This vision directly challenges rigid identitarian frameworks and promotes openness, dialogue, and intellectual exchange.<\/p>\n

\n

The Prix de la Principaut\u00e9: honoring philosophical excellence<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The conference was delivered as part of the Prix de la Principaut\u00e9<\/strong>, awarded annually by the Fondation Prince Pierre de Monaco in collaboration with the founders of the Rencontres Philosophiques de Monaco:<\/p>\n