Seite - 122 - in Reflective Cosmopolitanism - Educating towards inclusive communities through Philosophical Enquiry

122 REfLECTIvE COsMOPOLITANIsM a complex global system. Global problems and necessities are directly linked to our local actions. These acts have detrimental consequences (for example, our consumption pat- terns are linked to social and environmental crises; the problem of migration) and beneficial consequences (the increase in the use of clean energy). We do not always know the rela- tion between acts and consequences. Sometimes the relationship might be too distant, or we cannot comprehend the relationship between the local context and global whole. Even when we do know the relation, we still may find it difficult to make the “correct” decision. Among people who are used to contexts of great cultural diversity, we must promote zoom thought. Zoom thought allows people to be capable of moving from local to global contexts without forgetting the connections between the two. It is important to work on the relation between our actions and the consequences that derive from those actions, both with the short and the long zoom. Discussion Plan: Global-local. Local action, global consequences If some questions are too abstract for the participants, you can give some examples (such as the ones presented), but try to let them also think about other possibilities. 1. Are there acts that may be beneficial here but are detrimental elsewhere? (For example: Does producing shoes in China so that they are cheaper here have det- rimental consequences elsewhere? If so, to whom and what might they be?) 2. Are there acts that are beneficial elsewhere but detrimental here? (For example: one country building a dam in a river that another country relies on for irriga- tion.) 3. Can we consider an action as good or bad or as right or wrong without thinking about the consequences in our environment? And without thinking about the consequences in distant environments? (For example: Is it okay to buy inexpen- sive runners if you know that they were made in a factory using child labour?) 4. Must we know the consequences of our acts before taking action? Do we take the time to find out? Why (not)? 5. Could there be certain behaviors and acts that are generally accepted but have negative consequences? 6. Could there be certain actions that are generally not accepted but have positive consequences? 7. Are there any types of behavior that people condemn in public and then practice in private? 8. Are there any types of behavior which people praise in public and then refuse to practice in private? 9. In question 7, is it possible that people disapprove of certain behavior but enjoy the consequences? 10. In question 8, is it possible that people approve certain behavior but disapprove its consequences? Exercise: Local and global In the following statements, look for the meaning of the highlighted words and check if they could be replaced by the words local or global, or if the meaning of the highlithed word is “local” or “global” or if it could be changed by a word with