عنوان

A non-contingent concept of connectedness for cosmopolitanism

Number

TLets547242

Title Proper

A non-contingent concept of connectedness for cosmopolitanism

General Material Designation

[Thesis]

First Statement of Responsibility

Dineen, Katy

Name of Publisher, Distributor, etc.

London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)

Date of Publication, Distribution, etc.

2011

Dissertation or thesis details and type of degree

Ph.D.

Body granting the degree

London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)

Text preceding or following the note

2011

Text of Note

My aim, in this thesis, is to criticise what I see to be a theme in contemporary cosmopolitanism, and suggest a new direction for such theorizing to follow. That theme is the placement of empirical considerations at the very centre of cosmopolitan theorizing. It seems at times that many cosmopolitans look around them, see something they find deeply unsettling (i.e. global poverty and/or inequality), and this moves them to theorize cosmopolitan obligations into being. I will argue against this kind of approach. I believe this 'pragmatic turn' to be damaging to cosmopolitanism. The starting point of these cosmopolitanisms seems to affect those theories, and makes suspect the implied obligations. It would be better if premises and presuppositions that were neutral with respect to these cosmopolitan obligations could imply such obligations. Furthermore, I will argue that a modestly metaphysical Kantianism can give us such neutral starting points. My interpretation of Kant centres on his ideas concerning moral agency, and will be metaphysical: the relevant ideas may be said of all relevant agents at all times, cannot be experienced through empirical investigation, and cannot be proved by theoretical deduction. Nevertheless, I will argue that my Kantian interpretation gives forth a modest metaphysics, insofar as the warrant we have to assert metaphysical claims is not given to us by speculative or theoretical reason, but rather by our practical reason. In particular, I will argue that, from a cosmopolitan perspective, a metaphysical, but also modest, interpretation of imperfection and freedom may be very useful

HM Sociology

Dineen, Katy

London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)

Electronic name

p

[Thesis]

276903

a

Y