Conversations with Tyler

Kwame Anthony Appiah on Pictures of the World

Jul 31, 2019

Kwame Anthony Appiah, a philosophy professor at NYU and a cosmopolitan thinker, discusses his unique upbringing, emphasizing the blend of local and global identities. He explores Ghana's political evolution, the complexities of nationalism versus cosmopolitanism, and the ethical dilemmas of cultural heritage. Appiah also shares personal anecdotes, from sheep farming in New Jersey to chairing the Booker Prize, and reflects on the significance of openness in personal growth and the joys of literary exploration.

01:01:51

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Episode guests

Kwame Anthony Appiah

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Episode notes

Intro

2min

Religious Belief and Political Evolution in Ghana

16min

Bridging Nationalism and Cosmopolitanism

11min

Cultural Concepts: Value and Identity

19min

Royal Encounters and Childhood Reflections

4min

Contrasts of Life: From Sheep Farms to Urban Rhythms

6min

Embracing Uncertainty in Personal and Philosophical Growth

4min

Born to a Ghanaian father and British mother, Kwame Anthony Appiah grew up splitting time between both countries — and lecturing in many more — before eventually settling in America, where he now teaches philosophy at New York University. This, along with a family scattered across half-a-dozen countries, establishes him as a true cosmopolitan, a label Appiah readily accepts. Yet he insists it is nonetheless possible to be a cosmopolitan patriot, rooted in a place, while having obligations and interests that transcend one’s national identity.

He joins Tyler to discuss this worldly perspective and more, including whether Africa will secularize, Ghanian fallibilism, teaching Jodie Foster, whether museums should repatriate collections, Karl Popper, Lee Kuan Yew, which country has the best jollof rice, the value of writing an ethical advice column, E.T. Mensah, Paul Simon, the experience of reading 173 novels to judge the Man Booker prize, and what he’s learned farming sheep in New Jersey.

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Read a full transcript enhanced with helpful links.

Recorded June 12th, 2019 Other ways to connect

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