Christophe Onguene

Jurgen Habermas' question of cosmopolitanism Christophe Onguene

This reflection attempts to present how the question of cosmopolitanism can be re-examined on the basis of a philosophical analysis by Jürgen Habermas. After the observation that the deep crisis of the nation-state, on the one hand, is related to its inability to control the economy in its global dynamics, to its now shared sovereignty, and on the other hand, to the advent of a society increasingly bound by risks that transcend geographical spaces, we show how Jürgen Habermas advocates cosmopolitanism as an antidote that can help the world to face the dictatorship of the supranational over the national, and to solve the collective problems that are acute today. After a careful examination of the foundations of this cosmocitizenship, we come to the conclusion that our author's conception of cosmopolitanism, free from any attempt at hegemony, should be accompanied by cosmoresponsibility and a reform of the system of global governance. Cosmoresponsibility is an awareness that the present and the future of humanity depend on all the citizens of the world, on a collective and inclusive "we".