On Cosmopolitanism and Forgiveness

This work is a discussion of one of the major issues in contemporary thinking by two of the world's leading thinkers. From the Stoics to Kant's idea of "perpetual peace", cosmopolitanism has been at the heart of philosophical and political thinking but until now has received little attention from contemporary commentators. Jacques Derrida asks how it is possible to uphold an international hospitality and sense of justice in the face of increasing nationalism and hostility to refugees. Richard Rorty asks whether the ideals of rights enshrined in liberty, equality and fraternity implicit in global cosmopolitanism are sustainable when the very concept of rights is problematic. What have duties and rights to do with hospitality? Should hospitality be grounded on a private or public ethic? Should we look to the city rather than the state for protection of basic freedoms?