Radical Universalism: Beyond Identity

Join us for an enlightening philosophical exploration of the concept of universalism and its relevance—or lack thereof—within today's political landscape. This thought-provoking discussion challenges the dominance of identity politics and advocates for universal equality, drawing insights from the works of Immanuel Kant.

🏆 Winner of the 2024 Leipzig Book Award for European Understanding.

The current political spectrum, from right to left, is heavily influenced by identity dynamics. The right often emphasizes blood and soil, while the left focuses on gender and race. Despite their differences, the parallels between these contrasting perspectives are striking. Contemporary liberalism, meanwhile, seems to have dwindled into an empty shell, serving more to shield individual rights than to embrace a duty to humanity.

In Omri Boehm's Radical Universalism: Beyond Identity, the author reinterprets three pivotal texts that have defined modern humanism: the Declaration of Independence, Kant's essay "What Is Enlightenment?", and the biblical account of the Binding of Isaac. Through these significant works—"monuments of a tradition that stands near to us but...in which the moral idea of humanity...was still living"—Boehm confronts the ideological shortcomings of our time while advocating for a revival of humanistic universalism at the core of political discourse.

About the Author:
Omri Boehm (born 1979) is an Israeli philosopher and associate professor at the New School for Social Research. He is renowned for his interpretations of the Binding of Isaac, his work on Kant, and his writings related to Israel and Zionism.

📍 Location: Wibautstraat 129, 1091 GL, Amsterdam
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