Universality - Definition and Overview

See also: universalism; Self-organization, Complexity

General study of systems

Universality is a meta-theory arguing that ostensibly discrete systems are part of a larger complex system that extends across several scales (spatially and temporally), and emerges in patterns during criticality. Generally, Universality has been replaced as an expression by Self-Organized Criticality (see: Self-organization).

Universality has been defined by at least four criteria:
(excerpt from: Ward, Mark. Beyond Chaos. New York: St. Martin's Press, 2001, p.77.)
1. The systems must be open and energy or information must be able to flow across their boundaries.
2. They must be made up of thousands, if not millions, of interacting units. Only when there are several scales available to work across does Universality become easy to spot.
3. The units should have the same sort of properties as each other. Between systems these units can be very different.
4. There must be a constant source of energy or information flowing into and out of the system driving it to a state of constantly shifting change. This energy flow 'tunes' the development of the system and gives it something to react to. In some cases this flow may be the output from another system displaying Universality.

Medieval history

In western history, the term universality refers to the medieval concept of an absolute, all-encompassing morality that justified a universal secular rule by one all-powerful Holy Roman Emperor, and also justified as universal the religious rule by one all-powerful all-encompassing (hence the term catholic) church. In the 17th century, the doctrine of universality gave way to the doctrine of raison d'état or national interest. Universality is comparable, but not equivalent, to the concept of the Mandate of Heaven in Chinese history.