Radical Cosmopolitics: The Ethics and Politics of Democratic Universalism (New Directions in Critical Theory Book 28)

While supporting the cosmopolitan pursuit of a world that respects all rights and interests, James D. Ingram believes political theorists have, in their approach to this project, compromised its egalitarian and emancipatory principles. Focusing on recent debates without losing sight of cosmopolitanism’s ancient and Enlightenment roots, Ingram confronts the philosophical difficulties of defending universal ideals and the implications for ethics and political theory. In morality as in politics, theorists have generally focused first on discovering universal values and second on their implementation. Ingram argues that only by prioritizing the development and articulation of universal values through political action in the fight for freedom and equality can theorists do justice to these efforts and cosmopolitanism’s universal vocation. Only by proceeding from the local to the global, from the bottom up rather than from the top down, on the basis of political practice rather than moral ideals, can we salvage moral and political universalism. In this book, Ingram provides the clearest, most systematic account yet of this schematic reversal and its radical possibilities. Contents Acknowledgments Introduction The Cosmopolitan Revival and Its Reversals From Cosmopolitanism to Cosmopolitics Cosmopolitanism as a Problem in Practical Philosophy Kantian Conundrums and a Critical-Democratic Alternative Part One: COSMOPOLITANISM FROM THE TOP DOWN 1. Universalism in History A Short History of Western Cosmopolitanisms A Fin de Siecle Renaissance 2. Cosmopolitanism in Ethics: Tensions of the Universal The Problem of the Human: Anthropological Universalism From the Standpoint of Redemption: Procedural Universalism 3. Cosmopolitanism in Ethics: Realizing the Universal Achieving Perpetual Peace: Right, Progress, Publicity Cosmopolitan Democracy, Cosmopolitan Dilemmas Part Two: COSMOPOLITICS FROM THE BOTTOM UP 4. Rethinking Ethical Cosmopolitanism: From Universalism to Universalization Universalism as the Critique of False Universals The Measure of Equality 5. Rethinking Political Cosmopolitanism: From Democracy to Democratization Democracy as Political Action Democratic Universalism as Cosmopolitics 6. Cosmopolitics in Practice: The Politics of Human Rights Human Rights Politics as Implementation Human Rights Politics as Democratic Action Conclusion Three Realisms and Their Lessons A Realism of Possibility Notes Works Cited Index While Supporting The Cosmopolitan Pursuit Of A World That Respects All Rights And Interests, James D. Ingram Believes Political Theorists Have, In Their Approach To This Project, Compromised Its Egalitarian And Emancipatory Principles. Focusing On Recent Debates Without Losing Sight Of Cosmopolitanism's Ancient And Enlightenment Roots, Ingram Confronts The Philosophical Difficulties Of Defending Universal Ideals And The Implications For Ethics And Political Theory. Universalism In History -- Cosmopolitanism In Ethics : Tensions Of The Universal -- Cosmopolitism In Politics : Realizing The Universal -- Rethinking Ethical Cosmopolitanism : From Universalism To Universalization -- Rethinking Political Cosmopolitanism : From Democracy To Democratization -- Cosmopolitics In Practice : The Politics Of Human Rights. James D. Ingram. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Introduction 1. - Part 1. Cosmopolitanism from the Top Down. - 1. Universalism in History 23. - 2. Cosmopolitanism in Ethics: Tensions of the Universal 63. - 3. Cosmopolitism in Politics: Realizing the Universal 103. - Part 2. Cosmopolitics from the Bottom Up. - 4. Rethinking Ethical Cosmopolitanism: From Universalism to Universalization 147. - 5. Rethinking Political Cosmopolitanism: From Democracy to Democratization 184. - 6. The Politics of Human Rights 226. - Conclusion 263 Reconfiguring cosmopolitanism to adapt to the moral and political challenges of globalization.