1) The document discusses the concept of cosmopolitan thinking and what it means to adopt a cosmopolitan perspective. 2) Cosmopolitanism requires broad horizons to overcome issues like fear of outsiders, but it cannot be fully achieved due to environmental and contemporary limitations. 3) True cosmopolitanism indicates an ideal goal rather than a achievable identity, and is best understood by educated, open-minded people rather than those who are egotistical or lack humility.

1. Marcin Senderski
What does it mean to adopt cosmopolitan thinking?
We live under different skies, with distinct blue intensity and cloudiness. That reminds me Ludwik
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Koninski’s words, proving that common rules cannot exist, because there is no common reality.
(Ryszard Kapuscinski, Lapidarium V, Warsaw 2002)
Few words to begin with
Albert Camus wrote, the evil that is in the world always comes of ignorance. Starting with this
quotation I would like to present my views on cosmopolitanism, an ideaology that requires of its
followers broad horizons and therefore has a potential to overcome some plagues of the modern
world.
The lack of knowledge predominantly causes fear. The phenomenon of fear of aliens is
obviously contrary to the assumptions of cosmopolitanism. The way to overcome this problem is to
obtain knowledge. Otherwise, we will change our minds only outwardly rather than factually.
Since you have read the title of this essay, you certainly noticed that I avoided an expression
cosmopolite and I am not going to make use of it in this text. I am writing about cosmopolitan
thinking rather than being a cosmopolite, since our environment and contemporary limitations
preclude us from making an entire use of this ideology. I am doing it deliberately, emphasizing a
slightly utopian meaning of cosmopolitanism nowadays. Finally, I used a word adopt, but perhaps I
should have even used a word pursue, showing that we cannot really reach pure cosmopolitan way
of thinking.
Harmless utopia or misunderstood philosophy?
Let’s throw some light on the subject of human rights which, undoubtedly, are one of the
moral bases of global community. They are recognized by the majority of civilized world, but a word
human can reasonably be considered misused, since there is no human identity. Unification of
human rights standards should have been preceded by the foundation of true global community.
Thus, since human rights do not take cultural relativism into account, they cannot be executed with
reference to all humans. Let me mention the example of Gypsies, whose customs allow eight-year-
old children to enter into the marriage union. Naturally, such a behaviour is at variance with even the
most liberal, civilized regulations.
This is only one out of many questions I ask myself while shaping my own philosophy of life.
What law should be applied towards Gypsies? Their own customs? Or international law, equivalent
to human rights?
What is the answer for the question put in the headline, then? Cosmopolitanism is neither
offensive nor aggressive ideology; simultaneously it is unattainable in its pure form. Perhaps the
1
The book is unavailable in English. Translation from Polish to English was made by me.
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2. most accurate way to interpret it is to state that cosmopolitanism only indicates a clear goal. What
paths we will choose to reach it – is up to us.
I have a compelling impression that the very idea of global citizenship may be properly
understood only by the educated and clever people. Haughtiness, egocentrism and lack of humility
lead to half-baked and silly outcomes. A broad-minded intellectual never says he is acquainted with
the whole world’s heritage. The world is in constant growth. Thousands of years ago people
considered their companions making up their tribe as the whole world’s population. Nowadays, the
globe is more diverse, colourful, ambiguous, dynamic and vivid. Cosmopolitanism – superfluous
before – became a challenge. Perhaps we will live to see the cosmopolitanism as a conditio sine qua
non to ensure international peace and security.
Apart from obtaining necessary knowledge, the psychological sphere is very important. The
knowledge is needless unless we are mentally prepared to make the most of it. Master of arts in
ethnology who at the same time is a racist will not adhere to cosmopolitan philosophy.
Cosmopolitanism is not a universal idea, in a way that not everyone is able to understand the
very essence of it. I have enumerated the following conditions, fulfilling of which lets you make a
conscious choice, whether you want to adopt cosmopolitan way of thinking:
• Cultural sacrum. Having an insight into the culture of our partner, mutual knowledge
on values and history, an acceptance of any dissimilarities;
• Communication. The possibility to communicate as far as technical and linguistic
factors are concerned;
• Mentality. Common experience, openness to the others;
• Economy. More or less equal level of economic development to avoid quasi-vassal
relationships between partners.
What is it? What it should be?
I do not trust the young people who say I am not a Pole, I am the citizen of the world. It is an
arrogance as long as such a person is not aware of the real scale of diversity. I wonder whether such
a person would still feel as citizen of the world while getting lost in Brazilian slums or getting stuck
inside the revolutionary crowd somewhere in Africa. I strongly believe that cosmopolitanism means
something deeper than fouling our own nest, although Gilbert K. Chesterton writes in one of his
essays we have to become world patriots in order to save it. However, it is easier to say than do.
The electronics crosses the borders, but the conviction that we are all becoming closer to
each other is an illusion. Overcoming boundaries and drawing boundaries – these two processes are
happening simultaneously. The wall in Ústí nad Labem, the Israeli West Bank barrier or the recently
demolished wall in Nicosia – the world is still full of divisions. We should not be deceived by the e-
intimacy, which in fact has nothing to do with an authentic intimacy between people.
I claim that an individual cannot acquire cosmopolitan thinking consciously. It may happen
through his experience, which accumulates inside him and changes his mind in a way that he
understands enough foregrounds and backgrounds, histories and world’s complexities, to become
global friendly. The process itself is hidden and intangible.
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3. From each place on earth, the world seems to be different. Without accepting this
elementary truth, it is impossible to understand reasons and aims of other people’s behaviour.
SWOT analysis2
I believe that a human himself does not create aims, although remaining in delusion he may
be convinced that he does. The environment he lives in builds up specific rules and desires. And the
circumstances that produce this so-called pressure vary between different cultures and evolve over
time. A noble goal, appreciated in one society, can be completely undervalued in the another one. To
be successful in the eyes of western civilizations you most likely have to earn a lot of money. But at
the same time money and possessions do not play any role among Africans, where family and
religion are the most precious parts of life.
Multiculturality, however, may paradoxically be inspiring and lay foundations of
cosmopolitanism. If we cultivate unified culture, cosmopolitanism would be no challenge at all.
What we gain from cosmopolitizing? Freedom from some inconvenient limitations of today’s
reality. We may free ourselves from such plagues as racism, xenophobia, stereotypes, biases.
Although cosmopolitanism deals with many problems, there still may occur some kind of
culture clash. The inevitable risk of a conflict between generations should also be regarded as a
threat. Young people would absorb cosmpopolitanism more willingly than the older ones.
The crux of the matter is neither to make the others adopt our culture nor to choose the best
culture which should be imposed everywhere. The latter case would lead to americanization rather
than cosmopolitization. We should beware of mistaking these two notions.
The worst thing we can do is letting history fall into oblivion. Without understanding the past,
the historical background, we cannot create anything positive. In addition to this, deriving from the
history brings unique advantage – we learn from mistakes.
Desired attitude: being global friendly
Cosmopolitanism is a state of soul. It derives from a deep respect towards all cultures around
the world. If you meet the Alien and you are able to tell him Yes, I do understand what you feel, it is
surely a sign of the desired attitude. I cannot imagine cosmopolitanism without humility. The variety
of world’s heritage requires humility as a basic and immanent attitude. Nowadays, no one can
comprehend the entirety of world’s experience.
When in Rome, do as the Romans do – this old proverb is still up-to-date. I cannot imagine
someone open-minded rejecting this idea in order not to make other people feel offended. It is not
an incentive to dispose of our own values and moral principles, but a sign that we hold our hosts in
high esteem.
As a keen admirer of Ryszard Kapuscinski, I cannot adopt any antagonistic philosophy
towards the Alien. What we learnt about the most exotic cultures under the sun, is mostly thanks to
his sacrifice and talent. If Ryszard Kapuscinski, a man who knows perfectly where lies and what
2
Economic analysis method; acronym stands for: S – strenghts, W – weaknesses, O – opportunities, T - threats.
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4. means culture clash, says I do not encompass the world,3 then who is capable of doing it? A handful
of people may be more authoritative as far as cosmopolitanism is regarded.
Therefore, I am trying to get rid of all utopian and unrealistic targets of cosmopolitanism.
There is no need to waste our energy to fight for literally boundless world. We should reach what is
achievable.
Jacek Kaczmarski, twentieth-century Polish poet, wrote sarcastically in 1987:
Nations, nations! Why the hell you need nations?
They get in the way to happiness and harmony
The history gives us emphatic evidence
You want peace? Get rid of barriers!4
A number of intellectuals, including Francis Fukuyama, prophesy that the world is on a good
way to reach the end of history. If there is a grain of truth in this statement, it might become a first
step to facilitate the expansion of cosmopolitanism. Cosmopolitanism comprehended as being global
friendly – this is the simplest way to express what it means to me.
3
Polish title: Nie ogarniam świata. The book written by Witold Bereś and Krzysztof Brunetko, published in 2007, not
translated yet.
4
Extract from a poem Limericks about nations. Translation made by me.
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