Philosophy 116: Cosmopolitanism

With the recent resurgence of nativism across the globe, the concept of “world citizenship” has received renewed attention by philosophers and critical theorists. On the one hand, the notion of the world citizen has been invoked to combat nationalism and xenophobia; at the same time, however, it remains a site of contestation over what “world” itself means as a universal idea and self-evident image of commonality, belonging, and rights. The aim of this course is to examine how philosophers and contemporary theorists have understood world citizenship, cosmopolitanism, and rights against the backdrop of current political crises. Readings draw from contemporary and canonical figures, and include Kwame Anthony Appiah, Wendy Brown, Immanuel Kant, Hannah Arendt, Jacque Derrida, Seyla Benhabib and Judith Butler. The course is writing and discussion intensive; the final integrative essay applies conceptual resources to a current political event or topic of interest, e.g. immigration, climate cosmopolitanism. Course is intended for first-year students and sophomores. Formerly Philosophy 216; may not be taken for credit if previously completed 216.