Cultural Philosophy of Globalisation

This module is designed to equip students with a nuanced and critical understanding of the ethical and aesthetic challenges arising from globalisation. It explores how globalisation influences the formation of identities – be they individual, cultural, or communal. Additionally, the module examines the extent to which technology shapes ethical and aesthetic values within the globalised context.

Learning Outcomes

• Demonstrate insightful understanding of ethical and aesthetic issues related to globalisation

•  Identify critical globalisation issues within the context of contemporary culture

• Display a sound understanding of the relationship between philosophical reflection and cultural contexts

•  Explain rigourously and accurately existing works in the field

• Develop critical thinking and creative ideas

•  Research and write a coherent essay with citations on an agreed relevant topic in the philosophy of globalisation

• Actively take part in constructive and critical dialogues

Teaching and learning methods: The course is lecture-based, supplemented by tutorials when relevant. 



Methods of assessment and examination: Overall assessment is by written essay at the end of the first semester.

Texts: Relevant excerpts will be provided from the above list.

Contents                               

(1) Introduction: Globalisation, culture, place and emptiness 

Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, The Communist Manifesto (1888)

Henri Lefebvre, The Production of Space (La production de l’espace, 1974)

Watsuji Tetsuro, Milieu: a study in human ontology (Fudo ningengaguteki kôsatsu 風土人間学的考察, 1935)

Don Ihde, ‘What Globalisation Do We Want?’, in Globalization, Technology, and Philosophy, Tabachnick, D. and Toivo Koivukoski, T. eds. (2004), 75-92.

(2) Person and Culture: Reflection on identity formation in relation to the global community (Emmanuel Mounier)

Emmanuel Mounier, ‘Personalism opposed to individualism’ & ‘Community or collectivity’, in Personalism, trans. P. Mairet (Notre Dame: University of Notre Dame Press, 2004), pp. 17-19 & 25-29. (in French: Le personnalisme, 1950)

Donald Phillip Verene, ‘Persons in a Technological Universe’, in Globalization, Technology, and Philosophy, Tabachnick, D. and Toivo Koivukoski, T. eds. (2004), 235-242.

(3) Cultural Identity and Dialogue: Reflection on the role played by dialogue in cultural

identity formation (Martin Buber)

Martin Buber,  I and  Thou, trans. Walter Kaufmann (New York: Simon & Schuster, 1996), pp. 56-61. (in German: Ich und Du, 1923)

Asher D Biemann, ed., The Martin Buber Reader : Essential Writings (New York : Palgrave Macmillan, 2002)       

(4) Creativity and Availability: The relevance of availability to understanding creative value formation in contemporary culture (Gabriel Marcel)

Gabriel Marcel, ‘Belonging and disposability’ & ‘Creative fidelity’ in Creative Fidelity, trans. R. Rosthal (New York: Fordham University Press, 2002), pp. 38-57 & pp. 147-174. (in French: Du refus à l’ invocation, 1940)

Ian Angus, ‘Technology and the Ground of Humanist Ethics’, in Globalization, Technology, and Philosophy, Tabachnick, D. and Toivo Koivukoski, T. eds. (2004), 175-190.

(5) Other Selves and the Cultural World: Reflection on the relationship between cultural identity and other selves (Maurice Merleau-Ponty)  

Maurice Merleau-Ponty, ‘Other selves and the human world’, in Phenomenology of Perception, trans. C. Smith (London: Routledge, 1962), pp. 346-365. (in French: ‘Autrui et le monde humain’)

Anya Daly, ‘The Ethical Interworld’, in Merleau-Ponty and the Ethics of Intersubjectivity (London: Palgrave Macmillan 2016), pp. 281 & 286-287. 

(6) Responsibility and the Cultural World: On the role played by responsibilities in cultural value formation (Emmanuel Levinas)

Emmanuel Levinas, ‘Ethics and the Face’, in Totality and Infinity, An Essay on Exteriority, trans. A. Lingis (Pittsburgh: Duquesne University Press, 1969), pp. 294-219. (in French: Totalité et infini, essai sur l’extériorité, 1961)

Roger Burggraeve, ‘The Other and Me: Interpersonal and Social Responsibility in Emmanuel Levinas’, Revista Portuguesa de Filosofia T. 62, Fasc. 2/4, (2006): 631-649.

(7) Human Values, Cultures and Techniques: The impact of techniques on human and cultural values in the contemporary world (Martin Heidegger)

Martin Heidegger, ‘The Question Concerning Technology’, in Basic Writings, ed. David Farrell Krell, London: Routledge, 1993), 307-342. (in German: Die Frage nach der Technik).

Trish Glazebrook, ‘Global Technology and the Promise of Control’, in Globalization, Technology, and Philosophy, Tabachnick, D. and Toivo Koivukoski, T. eds. (2004),143-158.     

(8) Humanism, Technical Culture and Society: Reflection on the autonomous nature of technology and its impact on culture and society.

Jacques Ellul, ‘Humanism” & “Is There a Technical Culture?’, in The Technological Bluff, trans. Geoffrey W. Bromiley (1986)   126-149.

Jan van Boeckel, The Betrayal by Technology: A Portrait of Jacques Ellul, interview (1992, 54 min).

9) Cultural Dwelling and Globalisation: The cultural effects of our inability to ‘dwell’ in the context of globalisation.

Heidegger, M. (1971) ‘Building Dwelling Thinking’, in Poetry, Language, Thought, trans. A. Hofstadter. 

Cipriani, G. (2014), 'Dwelling in the Light of the Thou, Or the Art of the Opening Space', International Journal of Cultural Research, No. 3 (16): 74-78.

10) Machines, Virtuality and Globalisation: Reflection on the nature of virtuality as value in the technological world (Michael Heim).

Michael Heim, M. (1994) ‘The Essence of VR’ & ‘Heidegger and McLuhan: The Computer as Component’, in The Metaphysics of Virtual Reality (New York & Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1994), 55-71 & 109-12.

Cipriani, G. (2016), ‘Dialogue and The Aesthetics of Globalization’, in Proceedings of the 20th International Congress of Aesthetics, Seoul National University, Korea.

(11) Hyper-reality and Globalisation: On the blurring of the distinction between reality and simulation in contemporary art and global culture (Jean Baudrillard)

Baudrillard, J., ‘Simulacra and Simulation’ & ‘The Gulf War did Not take Place’, in Jean Baudrillard, Selected Writings, ed. M. Poster (Stanford University Press, 2001), pp.169-187 & 231-253. (in French: Simulacre et simulation & La guerre du Golf n’a pas eu lieu)

Gilbert Germain, ‘The Human Condition in the Age of Technology’, in Globalization, Technology, and Philosophy, Tabachnick, D. and Toivo Koivukoski, T. eds. (2004), 159-174.

Additional sources

• Graig, E. ed. (1998) Encyclopedia of Philosophy, London: Routledge, 10 vols.

• Tabachnick, D. and Toivo Koivukoski, T. eds. (2004) Globalization, Technology, and Philosophy. New York: State University of New York Press.

•  Hylland Eriksen, T. (2014) Globalization: The Key Concepts. London: Bloomsbury Academic.  

• A. G. Hopkins, ed. (2002) Globalization in World History. W. W. Norton & Company.

• Ritzer, G. (2011) Globalization: The Essentials.  Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell.

• J. Timmons Roberts, J. and Bellone Hite, A. (2014) The Globalization and Development Reader: Perspectives on Development and Global Change. Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell.

• Aart Scholte, J. (2005) Globalization: A Critical Introduction. London: Palgrave Macmillan.