Cosmopolitanism:

What Does It Mean to be a Citizen of the World?

John L. & Sue Ann Weinberg Professor  in the  Historical & Philosophical Foundations of Education,

Teachers College, Columbia, and author, THE TEACHER AND THE WORLD:  A Study of Cosmopolitanism as Education

In recent years, the ancient and perennial idea of Cosmopolitanism has been reanimated by scholars in both the social sciences and humanities – including one of our former guest speakers, Kwame Appiah.  They discern in the idea, ways in which people today can respond creatively to rapid social, political, cultural, and economic transformations.

This outlook has deep philosophical roots  —  from Socrates and the 5th century Greek Stoics who coined the term to declare that they were “citizens of the world,” through the universalist ambitions of the great monotheistic religions, to philosophers like Immanuel Kant, and in our day Levinas, Derrida, Appiah, Nussbaum, Barber, Bok, Sen, and Walzer.

In his book The Teacher and the World: A Study of Cosmopolitanism as Education,  David T. Hansen,  the John L. & Sue Ann Weinberg Professor in the  Historical & Philosophical Foundations of Education, proposes that a Cosmopolitan-minded orientation can empower us to address both the challenges and opportunities of our era.

Prof. Hansen provides us with “ideas that can help us do our work and hold true to our values in the face of all the pressures of globalization which bear down hard on teachers everywhere.”  He observes critically that “globalization” reduces humankind to  “human capital” and “emphasizes economic life over the rest of human life” with a premium on production.

Dinner: To augment the fellowship among members this year, you are warmly invited to join other members for dinner at Faculty House at 5:30 PM, after which we will walk to  Teachers College for the Seminar, as indicated above.  Dinner at Faculty House, a varied and ample  buffet (including wine), is $25, which must be paid for by check made out to Columbia University with “dinner” and Seminar 511 noted in the memo line.  We will collect checks at the beginning of the meal. If you intend to join us for dinner you must let us know via email a week in advance.

Faculty House is located on Columbia University’s East Campus on Morningside Drive, north of 116th Street.  Enter Wien Courtyard through the gates on 116 Street between Amsterdam Avenue and Morningside Drive. Walk toward the north end of the courtyard, then turn right toward Morningside Drive.  Faculty House will be the last building on the right.  PLEASE BRING A PHOTO ID FOR ADMITTANCE TO THE BUILDING.

BACKGROUND: This seminar is jointly sponsored by the Columbia University Seminars on Innovation in Education, and on Ethics, Moral Education, and Society.

The Seminar on Innovation in Education is co-chaired by Ronald Gross, who also conducts the Socratic Conversations at the Gottesman Libraries, and Robert McClintock who is John L. and Sue Ann Weinberg Professor Emeritus in the Historical and Philosophical Foundations of Education at Teachers College. Founded in 1970, the Seminar explores the process of learning in individuals, organizations, and society throughout the lifespan and via major institutions.

,The Seminar on Ethics, Moral Educationand Society, chaired by Michael Schulman,  brings together scholars from psychology, philosophy, sociology, political theory, education, religion and other disciplines to explore issues in ethics, moral education, moral development, moral motivation, moral decision making and related topics.

    Upcoming 2013-14 seminar dates: Dec 9 on Global Obama,  Jan 27 on The Power of Conversation,  no Feb, Mar 3, Apr 7, May 5.

Columbia University encourages persons with disabilities to participate in its programs and activities.  University Seminar participants with disabilities who anticipate needing accommodations or who have questions about physical access may contact the Office of Disability Services at 212-854-2388 or disability@columbia.edu.  Disability accommodations, including sign-language interpreters, are available on request.  Requests for accommodations must be made two weeks in advance.  On campus, seminar participants with disabilities should alert a Public Safety Officer that they need assistance accessing campus.

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    Michael Schulman, chair, Ethics, Moral Education, and Society, mdschlmn41@yahoo.com