Definition and scope

• "Cosmopolitanism" derives from the Greek "kosmopolités", which means ‘citizen of the world’.
• used to cover a wide range of moral and sociopolitical issues withink Philosophy
• the core idea is that all humans belong to a single community, regardless of their political affiliation, and that this community should be cultivated
  • the way this community is envisioned varies: focus on political institutions, moral norms or relationships, economy, cultural expressions
• philosophical interest: its challenge to attachments perceived as natural to fellow citizens, the local state, shared cultures etc.

History of Cosmopolitanism

• Greek and Roman Cosmopolitanism

  • Aristotle and Plato represent an ideal political culture that is not cosmopolitan
    • for an Athenian citizen, the pursuit of good life is linked to the fate of their city and a similar pursuit by the fellow inhabitants
    • cosmopolitan expectations: attitudes towards foreigners who live in Athens
    • however not anti-cosmopolitan (not an active exclusion or persecusion of foreigners, for example), simply uncosmopolitan
  • Other greeks however were pursuing cosmopolitan interests:
    • for example, travelling intelectuals focused on the contrast between the natural ties of humanity and the conventional ties of politics (Sophist Hippias)
    • Socrates avoids traditional political engagement and focuses on political examinations that extend to all, Athenians and foreigner
      • his ideas helped develop the