The Ethics and Ontology of Cosmopolitanism: Education for a Shared Humanity

Abstract

It is argued that Cosmopolitan theory and its main competitor, Realism, issue from fundamentally different presuppositions. Realists presuppose that communal/national identity overrides a shared humanity to the degree that the moral consideration of others stops at the border of the society. Based upon this presupposition, Realists also assume the existence of a perpetual state of war between nations. In contrast, on the basis of a shared humanity Cosmopolitans assert the existence of a duty of moral consideration to all human beings. They argue that if the fundamental moral value of a shared humanity is acknowledged, then a universal duty of moral consideration follows. They argue that this duty morally requires nations to conduct their relations with each other in accordance with ethical principles consistent with the intrinsic value and dignity of a shared humanity. In addition, as exemplified in Gandhi’s philosophy, Cosmopolitans posit particular ontological beliefs that require moral agents to engage in processes of internal self-transformation. They believe that internal selftransformation is necessary in order to develop the internal capacities to morally respond to the human dignity of others. It will be argued that the aims of a cosmopolitan education logically follow from this ontological perspective.