Issue date: 9/17/09 Section: News

Media Credit: Rachel Stone Philosopher Kwame Anthony Appiah discussed his theory of "Cosmopolitanism," the idea that everyone has a moral obligation to become culturally diverse and serve the global community.

Diversity is a term that most college students hear every day. Events promoting awareness about diverse people, cultures and groups occur weekly on campus. But even though students hear the message often, the question is: how do students go about applying the message to their lives?

This was the topic handled at Tuesday's Chautauqua lecture given by Kwame Anthony Appiah. Appiah, who has a doctorate in philosophy, talked about his theory of cosmopolitanism that he described in his book Cosmopolitanism: Ethics in a World of Strangers. Although the principle sounds complex, the theory is quite simple-every person has a moral obligation to the global community.

"We must know something about the lives of others and do something for others," Appiah said.

Cosmopolitanism has three main components, according to Appiah. First, everyone should realize that we are a part of a global community; second, we should be concerned about the fate of other humans; and third, we should borrow good ideas from people all over the world.

"We have much to gain from one another," Appiah said.

Appiah attributed the roots of his theory to Diogenes, a famous Greek philosopher. Appiah said he also learned about diversity, culture and cosmopolitanism from his parents. Appiah's mother was an English Episcopalian, whereas his father was a Methodist from Kumasi, Ghana. Appiah himself was born in London and grew up in his father's hometown. He traveled back and forth between England and Ghana throughout his lifetime.

These experiences taught Appiah about diversity and how the global community works.

"My father used to say . . . that we should always remember that we were citizens of the world," Appiah said.

Appiah said cosmopolitanism isn't a way to unify the world under one government. Rather, it is about respecting one another's differences, even if you don't agree with another person's beliefs.

"We should have a respect for diversity and culture," Appiah said, "because people matter and diversity matters to people."

Appiah offered several courses of action for people who want to develop this respect. He said that going to other places and experiencing how the culture works is one easy way. Something people should not do is try to force others into a specific way of thinking. Appiah encouraged people to converse with others about their beliefs, not try to convert them.

"It's not about conversion," Appiah said. "It's about learning as well as teaching; listening as well as talking."

So what is the simplest way to become more educated about the world?

"See one movie with subtitles per month," Appiah said.

For more information about Appiah, visit www.chautauqua.eku.edu/09_bios.php. The next Chautauqua lecture will be given by Nadine Strossen at 7:30 p.m. on October 8 in the Clark Auditorium located in the Wallace building.

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