Universality as Horizon: Aspirations and Geometries of Astrophysics in Africa

Abstract

For astronomers in Africa, both amateurs and professionals, the universality of the scientific investigation of the universe holds out the promise of navigating inequalities on earth. Universality is attractive: it allows astronomers from Africa to enter the global field of science diplomacy and provides them with a discursive framework in which to combat the structural inequalities of participation. Rather than taking universality as a descriptor for science, this article is inspired by Paulin Hountondji’s formulation of universality as horizon and speculatively elaborates this metaphor. Drawing on two ethnographic case studies, one on the spatial geometry of a Malagasy amateur astronomer, the other on the crafting of a vision document by and for astronomers in Africa, the article explores how different notions of ‘horizon’ are evoked in each case. In so doing, the article engages with the temporal and spatial aspects of universality and shows how this concept can elicit hope, provide direction and enable an examination of position-based particularities.