Confucian Humanitarian Cosmopolitanism and a Global Sense of Place

Abstract

This paper develops Confucian humanitarian cosmopolitanism rooted in the ideal Grand Union (datong) in the Book of Rites and later expanded by Neo-Confucians through their concept of humaneness (ren). The ideal world illustrated in the Grand Union provides the foundation for Confucian humanitarian cosmopolitanism in that it highlights valuing the lives and dignity of all individuals, and catering to the basic needs of all people. It is a form of humanitarian cosmopolitanism. However, this paper does not advocate an impartialist ethical attitude derived from the rationalist mandate: treat all equally, but argues for a partialist cosmopolitanism. It compares Kwame Anthony Appiah’s partialist humanitarian cosmopolitanism with the Confucian partialist humanitarian cosmopolitanism. Besides acknowledging Appiah’s emphasis that developed nations should aid the global community, this paper further advocates for the need for individuals’ psychological transformation to cultivate, and actualize, a global sense of humaneness. A key psychological barrier to the humanitarian cosmopolitan spirit is people’s claim of entitlement to their own “place,” the homeland to which they attach their sense of belonging and ownership. The papers suggests that Doreen Massey’s concept of a “global sense of place” could help to facilitate a psychological shift in our expanding our sense of place from the homeland to the world, thereby extending our empathy and concerns towards others in distant lands.