Boaventura de Sousa Santos argues that the "abyssal" thinking that structured colonial divides between the Old and New Worlds persists in modern Western thought, shaping exclusionary political and cultural relations in the global system. This thinking is characterized by rigid distinctions that exclude non-Western knowledge and practices, framing them as non-existent or incomprehensible. The article critiques the Western epistemic and legal frameworks that prioritize scientific and legal knowledge over alternative forms of knowledge, such as indigenous, philosophical, and theological perspectives. It highlights how these frameworks have historically excluded colonized peoples, reducing them to "non-citizens" and treating them as threats. The author proposes an "ecology of knowledges" as a counter to this abyssal thinking, advocating for a post-abyssal approach that recognizes diverse forms of knowledge and challenges the exclusionary logic of modernity. The article also discusses the persistence of colonial structures in contemporary society, such as the "state of exception" and the rise of neoliberal governance, which perpetuate inequality and exclusion. Finally, it calls for a critical rethinking of global knowledge and legal systems to promote a more inclusive and just global order.Boaventura de Sousa Santos argues that the "abyssal" thinking that structured colonial divides between the Old and New Worlds persists in modern Western thought, shaping exclusionary political and cultural relations in the global system. This thinking is characterized by rigid distinctions that exclude non-Western knowledge and practices, framing them as non-existent or incomprehensible. The article critiques the Western epistemic and legal frameworks that prioritize scientific and legal knowledge over alternative forms of knowledge, such as indigenous, philosophical, and theological perspectives. It highlights how these frameworks have historically excluded colonized peoples, reducing them to "non-citizens" and treating them as threats. The author proposes an "ecology of knowledges" as a counter to this abyssal thinking, advocating for a post-abyssal approach that recognizes diverse forms of knowledge and challenges the exclusionary logic of modernity. The article also discusses the persistence of colonial structures in contemporary society, such as the "state of exception" and the rise of neoliberal governance, which perpetuate inequality and exclusion. Finally, it calls for a critical rethinking of global knowledge and legal systems to promote a more inclusive and just global order.