What is "particularism"

Particularism \Par*tic"u*lar*ism\, n. [Cf. F. particularisme.]

1. A minute description; a detailed statement. [R.]

2. (Theol.) The doctrine of particular election.

3. (German Politics) Devotion to the interests of one's own kingdom or province rather than to those of the empire.

n. 1 (context theology English) The principle that only certain people are chosen by God for salvation. 2 An exclusive focus on a particular group, area, sect etc. 3 (context politics English) The principle that individual states, races of a federation etc. may act independently of a central authority.

n. a focus on something particular

Particularism may refer to:

• Epistemological particularism, a position concerning the problem of the criterion in epistemology ( philosophy)
• Historical particularism, an approach in anthropology
• Literary particularism, a literary genre that emphasizes details
• Moral particularism, the view that there are no universal moral principles
• Multicultural particularism, the belief that a common culture for all people is either undesirable or impossible
• Political particularism, the politics of group identity that trumps universal rights
• Religious particularism, name given to the phenomenon of Americanism in the apostolic letter Testem benevolentiae nostrae