The principle that reason and shared humanity create obligations to support the wellbeing of people distant from us—challenging the idea that we owe nothing to global strangers.
Yacob championed a cosmopolitan vision where reason reveals our fundamental connection to all humans. This principle extends to those we never meet. If someone in another country lacks food while we possess abundance, reason shows that the distribution is unjust. Distance and nationality don't erase shared humanity or the dignity we all possess. For extreme wealth, this concept is challenging: an extremely wealthy person in a rich nation cannot dismiss poverty in poorer nations as 'not their problem.' Global supply chains and economic systems often create the wealth of some by impoverishing others through low wages, resource extraction, and environmental damage. Yacob's cosmopolitanism means the extremely wealthy bear responsibility for understanding their global impact. If their wealth depends on others' deprivation, reason demands they acknowledge this and work toward more just global arrangements. Willful ignorance of distant suffering contradicts reasonable commitment to universal human dignity.
Peri can explain this concept, give practical examples, help you decide whether it applies to your situation, or recommend a journey if appropriate.
Explore related journeys or tell Peri what you're working through.