Philosophic universals designate unrealized potentialities rather than existing states

Evidence

Now there is a large class of concepts—we dare say, the philosophically relevant concepts—where the quantitative relation between the universal and the particular assumes a qualitative aspect, where the abstract universal seems to designate potentialities in a concrete, historical sense. However “man,” “nature,” “justice,” “beauty” or “freedom” may be defined, they synthetize experiential contents into ideas which transcend their particular realizations as something that is to be surpassed, overcome. Thus the concept of beauty comprehends all the beauty not yet realized; the concept of freedom all the liberty not yet attained. — Herbert Marcuse, One-Dimensional Man, 753

Categorization

• DEFINE: Core Marcusean definition: concepts like freedom and beauty are not descriptive but index what is not yet attained, giving them critical force.
• XREF: connects to: Critical Theory seeks the universal within the particular rather than above it — Martin Jay, The Dialectical Imagination: A History…, 724; Universal propositions like ‘wages are too low’ carry meaning that resists individual translation — Herbert Marcuse, One-Dimensional Man: Studies in the…, 444; Universals function as normative ideals, not logical class concepts — Herbert Marcuse, One-Dimensional Man: Studies in the…, 790 (+8 more)

Broader Connections

• Universals persist because reality always falls short of possibility #expands (0.90) — Herbert Marcuse, One-Dimensional Man, 741
• Possibility is a concrete property of already existing beings, not a subjective construct #contradicts (0.85) — Jean-Paul Sartre, Being and Nothingness, 378
• Theoretical universalizations can recuperate difference into old Enlightenment universalist frameworks #complicates (0.82) — Stuart Hall, Essential Essays, Volume 2, 409
• Western modernity is a hegemonic particularism disguised as universalism #complicates (0.75) — Stuart Hall, Essential Essays, Volume 2, 153