The Unfinished Project: Toward a Postmetaphysical Humanism

As humanity becomes increasingly interconnected through globalisation, the question of whether community is possible within culturally diverse societies has returned as a principle concern for contemporary thought. Lorenzo Simpson charges that the current discussion is stuck at an impasse between postmodernism’s fragmented notions of cultural difference and humanism’s homogeneous versions of community. Simpson traces the debate between community and difference thorough the works of Matthew Arnold, J.G. von Herder, Theodor Adorno, Jnrgen Habermas, Iris Young and others and proposes an alternative - one that bridges cultural differences without erasing them. He argues that we must establish common aesthetic and ethical standards incorporating sensitivity to difference if we are able to achieve cross-cultural understanding.