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George Eliot and Cosmopolitanism—An Interpretation from Appiah’s Theoretical Perspectives
Abstract
The fundamental idea of cosmopolitanism is that all human beings, regardless of their political stance or national identity, should share a common ethical framework and responsibilities on a global scale. However, while cosmopolitanism appeals to the concerns of all humanity, it also poses the problem that people may lose focus on their own national affairs. This paper analyzes George Eliot’s two works, Daniel Deronda and Impressions of Theophrastus Such, to illustrate her views on cosmopolitanism, especially the relationship between nationalism and cosmopolitanism. By utilizing philosopher Kwame Anthony Appiah’s concepts of cosmopolitanism, such as “cosmopolitan patriotism,” “impartial cosmopolitanism,” and “partial cosmopolitanism,” the paper concludes that it is the “partial cosmopolitanism” that Eliot pursues. In two of her works mentioned in this paper, Eliot is concerned about the indifference to nationalism that cosmopolitanism can bring, yet she also worries about the narrowness that nationalism can foster. Thus, in Daniel Deronda, Deronda combines nationalism and cosmopolitanism, becoming a cosmopolitan patriot who travels East with an inclusive spirit to realize his national ideals. Eliot integrates nationalism and cosmopolitanism, harmonizing the sense of ethnic belonging with the demands of global citizenship, with the hope that people can achieve a better moral state.
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