It’s difficult to disagree with the importance of recognizing human dignity and value across borders or the need for international solidarity. Professor Benhabib’s introductory essay described cosmopolitanism as consisting of three primary dimensions: the equal dignity of all human beings across borders, a recognition of the interaction and cross-cultural learning that occurs historically, and the entrenchment of that individual dignity through universal, human rights. Martha Nussbaum described it as “a noble but flawed ideal,” and it’s easy to see how “noble” applies. The ideals of cosmopolitanism seem great. The post will then turn to the specific contribution of Kendall Thomas to the discussion: his example of Las Vegas and The Cosmopolitan Resort and Casino. The panel extensively discussed the history of cosmopolitanism, its role in utopian thinking historically and today, as well as more contemporary conceptions like “cosmopolitanism from below.” Much of the discussion involved more esoteric details of cosmopolitanism and communicative ethics that may have been difficult to follow for more lay audiences however, when it was Professor Kendall Thomas’s turn to speak, an interesting (and likely more broadly accessible) question was posed: “Can we reconsider cosmopolitanism today without a simultaneous and sustained reconsideration of contemporary capitalism?” This short blog post will briefly discuss cosmopolitanism generally, the underlying subject of Utopia 12/13, including how even Professor Benhabib’s contemporary conception of “cosmopolitanism from below” is interwoven with capitalistic notions of the free market. Does cosmopolitanism provide a concrete vision of utopian ideals or is it too bogged down with free-market apologia to represent a utopia for anyone other than capitalists? On Wednesday, April 12, Bernard Harcourt hosted a panel discussion with political and critical legal theorists: Seyla Benhabib, Robert Gooding-Williams, Karuna Mantena, and Kendall Thomas to discuss utopia and cosmopolitanism.
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