A cosmopolis of all beings: Cosmopolitanism, indigeneity, and the more-than-human

Cosmopolitanism - either an idea that goes far back in recorded human history, or an approach whose form came before a definition-places high value on individual moral responsibility to other moral beings beyond the intermediation of the nation-state. Nussbaum's version links cosmopolitanism to rational liberal democracy, but not to the utter exclusion of individual loyalty to the state. Appiah's more nuanced version still holds the possibility of a universalist ethic while respecting difference. Magsino sees cosmopolitanism as a possible countervailing force to globalization. All of these recent theorists place cosmopolitanism in the realm of human action and responsibility. This paper explores Spinoza's philosophy as a route into broadening the sphere of cosmopolitanism to the more-than-human world. In doing so, I note that this shift entails altering the basis of membership therein from one of responsibility to other moral beings, to one of a responsibility to act morally to all beings. This stretches the hitherto human orientation of cosmopolitanism, extending responsibility to other beings even if they do not have ethical responsibility to people. Toulmin's etymological exploration of the word links human ordered-ness to ordered-ness in the world. Spinoza's cosmology is shown to have relevance to some Indigenous ways of being in the world.