Framing a Cosmopolitan Common Mind Approach for Global Challenges

Abstract

This paper posits and defends a cosmopolitan common mind approach that could be useful for resolving global challenges which cannot be resolved by individuals working independently from one another, such as achieving global peace, cleaning the environment, and improving public health. A ‘cosmopolitan common mind’ refers to intersubjective recognition of some claims across cultures or continents. This account of the cosmopolitan common mind is based on Philip Pettit’s theory of common mind and the standard account of cosmopolitanism. Pettit holds that a common mind is a shared mind. The standard account of cosmopolitanism envisages all human beings as members of the human community. This account is based on three ideals: individualism, egalitarianism, and universalism. A cosmopolitan common mind can direct collective action across cultures or continents to resolve global problems. Terrorism and climate change are global problems that are not the products of individual actions but collective actions. For instance, pollution is created by collective actions. If people all together create pollution, they all together can stop it. The problems of establishing global peace and clean ecology are similar to preventing pollution in that they are beyond the ability of any lone individual to solve. If it is not impossible, we can develop a cosmopolitan common mind to promote the good and stop the bad. In qualitative research methodology, I use the empirically informed philosophical analysis method to documentary resources, including journal papers, academic books, and proceedings of conferences and congresses.