In this opening episode of Cosmopolitan Currents, philosopher and cultural theorist Dr. Richard Shusterman, founder of The Center for Cosmopolitan Culture, offers a brief but powerful reflection on the mission that guides this podcast and the organization behind it.
Drawing from his decades of work in somaesthetics, intercultural philosophy, and the ethics of embodiment, Dr. Shusterman frames the urgent need for cosmopolitan dialogue in a time of rising nationalist tensions, cultural fragmentation, and ideological polarization. Through culture—understood in its richest sense, encompassing art, aesthetics, education, and everyday life—he invites us to imagine a more open, inclusive, and thoughtful global community.
This episode introduces listeners to the goals of Cosmopolitan Currents: to serve not just as a podcast, but as a curated archive of lectures, conversations, and critical encounters across disciplines and traditions. As Dr. Shusterman reminds us, the pursuit of cultural understanding is not a luxury—it is a necessity for building meaningful coexistence in an interconnected world.
Cosmopolitan Currents is a production of The Center for Cosmopolitan Culture, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting intercultural understanding and global harmony through the arts and humanities.
To explore more or support the archive, visit CosmopolitanCulture.org.
