Reviving the ancient philosophy of "Cosmopolitanism," a school of thought that dates to the Cynics of the fourth century BCE, Appiah traces its influence through history to show how Western intellectuals and leaders have wildly exaggerated the power of difference--and neglected the power of one. 我々に西側とその他、我々と彼等に二分している世界をコスモポリタニズム（世界主義）：見知らぬ人々の世界での倫理性を軸に再考を促し、ハティントンの『文明の衝突』で展開される分離主義者の教養に挑む意欲作。