Our Omnicultural World

Omniculturalism represents an ideal in line with Kant’s categorical imperative and the Rawlsian perspective on justice. Omniculturalism is sharply different from the traditional approaches to achieving ‘one world’ and human unity: traditionally, major religions and ideologies argue that we shall achieve ‘one world’ when everyone else changes, ‘sees the truth,’ and becomes a member of ‘my group.’ This is human unity through conquest, and so far it has resulted in countless wars and continuing conflicts. Through omniculturalism, we recognize that the world already is interconnected because of deep similarities. We already are members of a common human group, humanity, with deep and important shared characteristics. What we need is a change in focus and priorities, from identifying, fabricating, exaggerating, and celebrating differences, to acknowledging and celebrating our foundational similarities as human beings. These commonly shared human features are inherent to all human beings, simply by their being human. This becomes evident when we consider the common features of world literature, as well as how we are able to travel and interact with others from different groups—even when we do not speak their languages.