universe of discourse
- noun
- /ˈjuːnɪvɜrs əv dɪsˈkɔrs/
- Specialized
:
universo del discurso
- The novel creates a unique universe of discourse, allowing readers to engage with its themes on multiple levels.
- a common universe of discourse
Examples
-
"Tribal cultures could not dispute colonial claims because they were not in the same universe of discourse."
Academic text (1992) -
When studying philosophy, it's essential to identify the universe of discourse to understand the ideas being discussed.
-
Elsewhere, in the universe of discourse, the basis of community is always vulnerable to challenge.
Academic text (1990) -
In other words, endopsychic theory is a universe of discourse unto itself.
Academic text (2003) -
Mythic narrative is thus a universe of discourse that subsists by its own power.
Academic text (2007) -
Not only do they no longer share a common theme, such as salvation, but the shared universe of discourse forged to discuss that theme disintegrates.
Academic text (2007) -
Francesco shared with his poetic contemporaries a universe of discourse in which the strange visual rays of Circumspection would have been readily understood.
Academic text (2007) -
Moreover, the arguments they use to challenge themselves should not merely be drawn from the sanctioned places in the Straussian universe of discourse (Xenophon, etc.).
Academic text (2018) -
To what extent can a society be open to expressions that contravene the underlying elements of the public philosophy—expressions and ways of reasoning that stand outside the common universe of discourse and even undermine it?
Academic text (2001) -
In the context of this debate, the universe of discourse includes all arguments made about climate change.
Synonyms
136
5.1
All the people or things you look at when you study something
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase combines 'universe' (a set or scope) with 'discourse' (the subject matter or talk), so a learner who knows the constituents can often infer a general sense like 'the scope or topic of a discussion'. However, the precise technical meaning used in logic/analysis — 'the set of all entities under consideration' — is specialized and may not be fully predictable to a B1 learner without prior exposure, so it is only partially transparent.
Etymology
Universe of discourse is like drawing a circle around the things you are talking about; universe means a whole area and discourse means 'talk'. That's why it means 'the things under discussion'.