# Critical Universality **Critical Universality** refers to a system that is *open* to [Universal](Universality.md) criticism. This means that if we consider the set of all possible criticisms, the system is open to any of them. An example of this would be the [Explanation](Explanations.md) of [Why Should We Seek Good Explanations](We%20Must%20Seek%20Good%20Explanations.md#Why%20Should%20We%20Seek%20Good%20Explanations). This system in a sense is closed—it is closed to *all explanations*. But by that very same token it is *open* to universal criticism. Our explanation can be criticized, updated, amended, mutated, replaced or discarded. The [Hierarchy of Theories](Hierarchy%20of%20Theories.md) on the other hand is *not* open to universal criticism, instead it is *closed*. There exist criticisms *outside* the hierarchy that we cannot utilize to criticize it. The hierarchy only permits *internal* criticism. Critical universality is helpful in determining when we are dealing with [Bad Self-Reference](Self-Referential.md#Bad%20Self-Reference). [Self-Referential](Self-Referential.md) are not inherently a problem. They only are when they do not exhibit critical universality. This is why language (which can talk about itself) and explanations (which can also talk about other explanations) are completely acceptable - they display critical universality. --- Date: 20250102 Links to: Tags: References: * []()