Patriotism and Cosmopolitism in the Democratic Processes of Martha Nussbaum

Abstract

This paper pretends to reflect on the relation between patriotism and cosmopolitism, having as touchstone the perspectives of the philosopher Martha Nussbaum. According to the perspectives of this author, this relationship should be exhibited in the field of education (thinking of it as the field of preparing new citizens), which, in the case of North American education, is afected by high rates of provincialism and ignorance   of the diferent cultures and societies. The cosmopolitan citizen is represented in its own reference to the philosophical tradition, particularly, its cynical and stoic origins. In the context of these schools of thought, local and worldwide citizenships should be articulated; this idea is then related to the one of Martha Nussbaum who thinks that nowadays we have to act locally and think globally at the same time. Discussions and debates with other contemporary philosophers who disagree with the philosophical account of Nussbaum such as Rorty, Walzer and Gutman, who highlights the values of a democratic and humanist education, are also considered in the paper.