The Cosmopolitan Self: George Herbert Mead and Continental Philosophy

by Mitchell Aboulafia

Bridging the divide between American pragmatism and contemporary European thought In this incisive commentary, Mitchell Aboulafia examines the relevance of the American pragmatist philosopher George Herbert Mead to current debates on pluralism, universalism, and the fostering of a democratic temper. Addressing the relationship between Mead's notions of self and society and those of important European thinkers including Hannah Arendt and Jürgen Habermas, The Cosmopolitan Self demonstrates that Mead's ideas not only speak to resolving the tension between universalism and pluralism, they do so in a manner that challenges and advances the positions of these continental theoreticians. Teasing out strands of agreement and disagreement among Mead and these theorists on topics such as impartiality and good judgment, Aboulafia develops a conception of universalism that is compatible with contemporary notions of pluralism.

169 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2001