Introduction

According to Appiah, two foundational principles to cosmopolitanism are:

1. The idea that “we have obligations to others that stretch beyond those to whom we are related by the ties of kith and kind.” As human beings, we have a natural bond with others, particularly those who share similar characteristics.

2. We take seriously the value “not just of human life but of particular human lives” which includes taking an interest in the beliefs and practices that make them significant.

However, through the inevitable interactions between cultures, it is difficult to avoid certain bias resulting from one’s own culture in order to observe another one.

 

 

 

Chapter 1

Appiah discusses two kinds of perspectives taken on when explaining the actions of other people. The first is how someone’s actions could be understood from that person’s point of view. The second is how one might explain why someone else does something from their own point of view. If someone were to think about why someone else is doing something from that person’s point of view, their reasons can be quite clear. However, if someone were to explain why someone does something from their own point of view, the possibility of certain biases surfacing is much greater, especially if their own beliefs conflict with what they’re observing.

Perspective is very important because unbiased observation can lead to the discovery of new information and ideas about other people. It is also important to be aware of your own “cultural lenses” which may or may not limit your understanding of other people and their differences.