The Stoic Citizen of the World and its Role in the Modern Era


Published: Jul 6, 2022
Keywords:
Cosmopolitanism; Kant; Nussbaum; Stoicism; Refugee rights; Hospitality; Global citizenship; Universal reason
Eugenia Patseli
Abstract

This paper explores the Stoic concept of the "Citizen of the World" (Cosmopolitanism) and its relevance to the modern era, specifically regarding the rights of refugees. Drawing on the theories of Martha Nussbaum and Immanuel Kant, the author examines the moral obligation to treat "strangers" with hospitality and respect, grounded in the shared human capacity for reason and the common ownership of the Earth’s surface. The text highlights the Stoic view that local identities should be viewed as a series of concentric circles, with humanity occupying the outermost ring. While acknowledging the philosophical strength of these ideas in promoting global peace and justice, the author also addresses the practical challenges of implementing cosmopolitanism in modern society, citing the complexities of multicultural education and the legal limitations of these philosophical frameworks.

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References
Kant, Immanuel. Perpetual Peace [Για την Αιώνια Ειρήνη]. Translated by Anna Potaga. Athens: Alexandria, 1992.
Nussbaum, Martha. The Fragility of Goodness: Luck and Ethics in Greek Tragedy and Philosophy. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2001.
Nussbaum, Martha. “Patriotism and Cosmopolitanism” [Πατριωτισμός και Κοσμοπολιτισμός]. In For Love of Country [Υπέρ Πατρίδος], translated by A. Tsotsorou and E. Mystakas. Athens: Scripta, 1999.