Global Justice and Our Epochal Mind

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Global Justice and Our Epochal Mind explores the mind of our epoch, defined as the period since the Nuremberg Trial and the establishment of the United Nations in 1945. Xunwu Chen examines four defining ideas of this epochglobal justice, cosmopolitanism, crimes against humanity, and cultural tolerationas well as the structural relationships among these ideas. Chen argues that the mind of our epoch is essentially the mind of humanity. Its world view, horizon, standpoint, norms, standards, and vocabularies are of humanity, by humanity, and for humanity, and all are embodied in human institutions and practices throughout the globe. Meanwhile, our epochal mind has a dialectical relationship with particular cultures bearing normative force. As a metaphysical subjectivity and substance, humanity is the source of all human values in our epoch and defines what can and should be human values and virtues. Humankind, therefore, are a people with socio-political and legal sovereignty, sharing a common fate. This novel study brings a cross-cultural approach and will be of great interest to students and scholars of philosophy, political science, sociology, and the humanities more broadly.

Reviews

This book addresses pressing and indeed momentous issues in an informed, thoughtful, and imaginative manner. The author displays wide ranging erudition but also deep-cutting thought, as he engages critically with social theorists of the first rank. -- Vincent Colapietro, Pennsylvania State University
Drawing on Aristotelian and continental philosophies, Professor Chen mounts a vigorous defense of global justice, cultural cosmopolitanism, and human rights. He provides sorely needed encouragement in a pessimistic age. -- Andrew J. Nathan, Columbia University

Author Bio

Xunwu Chen is professor of philosophy in the Department of Philosophy & Classics at the University of Texas at San Antonio.