Carolina Musawwir ECI 524 (601) Summer- 2017 [Year]

In his book, COSMOPOLITANISM; ETHICS IN A WORLD OF STRANGERS,

Kwame Anthony Appiah explains the basic principles of cosmopolitanism using a variety of

examples from history and his life. He states that the term Cosmopolitan comes from being a

citizen of the cosmos, and as such, cosmopolitans take an interest in all human beings, regardless

of where they reside on earth or their cultural practices or beliefs, and feel an obligation to their

well-being. This might sound like a perfectly possible and maybe even simple task when looked

at only on the surface, because we know (or assume) that most humans care for their fellow

human. Yet Appiah dives deep, because caring for our fellow humans does not mean that we

should encourage them to become more like us, nor that we should want for them what we want

for ourselves. We are all different, Appiah states, and “the same things which are helps to one

person towards the cultivation of his higher nature, are hindrances to another….(1591)”. Appiah

through many of his and his families’ life experience stories gives us concrete examples of how

our values are developed and how our needs are different from each other.

These stories certainly give this book credibility and allow the reader to immerse itself

into what cosmopolitanism on the ground might look like. The anecdotes also bring an empathy

and understanding into how someone else might see a situation. Demonstrating the

Cosmopolitan importance of how learning about other cultures develops empathy and

appreciation for our differences. He states: “ I am urging that we should learn about people in

other places, take an interest in their civilizations, their arguments, their errors, their

achievements, not because that will bring us to agreement, but because it will help us get used to
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one another”(1226). It’s this getting used to each other that helps civilizations advance and

improve the quality of life for its inhabitants.

This was a great book, particularly because it addresses issues which are at the core of

our conflicts, both nationally and here at home. Technology, migration and economic needs

have connected the world in significant ways in a very short time. This connectedness means we

are confronted with people very different from us, often. This is great, a Cosmopolitan would

think, but as we know not everyone is a Cosmopolitan. There are people who feel that their way

of life is threatened by these intercultural exchanges, and retaliate against that. I believe like

Appiah, that they are the minority but this is sometimes hard to keep in mind, especially with so

much media coverage. This is a book that reminds us of the many complicated issues that we

erroneously simplify as just Islam against the West.

I agree with Appiah’s ideas of how a Cosmopolitan attitude can help the world to become

a better place for all of its inhabitants. I personally have a lot of experience with many of the

topics in this book and have first-hand knowledge of the challenges of dealing with people who

are different than you. I have been married to a Muslim man for 25 years, we differ in religious

beliefs, cultural upbringing and race (he is African American and I am Uruguayan). Our

marriage has been very challenging at times, particularly because religion is such a powerful

force. Yet, although none of us has managed to influence the other into changing religious

convictions, we have learned a lot from each other. I’m sure we have influenced each other in

small ways, taking what we see useful from each other’s cultures and developing an

understanding that what works for one of us might not be what works for both of us. It has been

a difficult journey, and one which often questioned if it was worth taking, but which I ultimately
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believe has made me and him better people. So yes… I am a believer of Cosmopolitanism and

its value in our world.

 Carolina Musawwir ECI 524 (601) Summer- 2017 [Year]

Works Cited

Appiah, Kwame Anthony. Cosmopolitanism: Ethics in a World of Strangers (Issues of Our

Time) W. W. Norton & Company. Kindle Edition.