An Example of Cosmopolitanism the Social Edge free essay sample

The Social Edge The Social Edge, an online forum sponsored by The Skoll Foundation, functions as an example of Kwame Appiah’s concept of cosmopolitanism because it opens channels of conversation between people of diverse backgrounds through a shared dedication to solving social injustices by utilizing social entrepreneurship. According to the Skoll Foundation a social entrepreneur can be defined a â€Å"creator[s] of innovations that disrupt the status quo and transform our world for the better†.The Skoll Foundation strives to accomplish large-scale change by investing in innovators committed to solving the planet’s most pressing problems. In June of 2003 they launched their project, The Social Edge, as an online global community intended toâ€Å" foster frank dialogue, mutual respect and a sense of community among all in the [social benefit] sector†. This mission statement and the subsequent formation of it’s intentions are reflective of the propon ents of Appiah’s ideal of Cosmopolitanism because amidst of diversity, the forum supports a meaningful exchange of ideas in a polite and engaging manner. We will write a custom essay sample on An Example of Cosmopolitanism: the Social Edge or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page In this case, theory and practice can become synonymous because the constituents of the conversation share the same level of education and professionalism necessary to actualize their desire to pursue social justness. Although participants in this forum perceive themselves as social entrepreneurs, or agents of change in society, they are still divided by other boundaries of identity such as gender, geography, religious beliefs and age. This is a crucial component to Appiah’s Cosmopolitanism model because The Social Edge’s forum acts to emphasize what unites the participants, rather than what divides them.Out of the 16 contributors to the conversation, 11 were men and 5 were woman. Furthermore, due to advancements in technology like high-speed Internet and live online chat, people are no longer limited to their physical sphere of residence in the constant exchange and relay of information. Technology, in the case of this forum, allows members to carry their conversation over the boundaries of 6 different countries including Australia, America, The Philippines, Bangladesh, Canada and India.Even the contributors who reside in America belong to different regions, which prescribe to their own set of cultural norms and practices, ranging from California to Chicago to Oregon to New York City. Lastly, the discussion of â€Å"Do we really need more money? † was a subject that people at different stages of life could all come together to share their opinions. For example, Rosemary Porter, a woman from Chicago who is about to enter law school, was able to voice her opinions alongside Jack Heath, a white man in his late 60s who is the founder and global CEO of a company called One Inspire.Regardless of their gender, geography and stage in life, The Social Edge convenes a body of people together through a mutually respectful exchange of information. Before one can go into the logistics of the conversation, one must first establish the boundaries and procedures of the forum it takes place within. In order to become a member of The Social Edge’s online community, all someone needs to do is register with the site online for free.All members are required to provide a username and email, however, many contribute further by including optional information such as pictur e, their hometown or current location, a biography detailing their own efforts towards social entrepreneurship and external links to their associated businesses. Once registered, members of The Social Edge can participate in biweekly ongoing discussions that are prompted by an article pertaining to current questions in the field of social entrepreneurship. The author of the â€Å"catalyst† is a qualified individual with experience in the social benefit sector that further serves as the discussion mediator. One such article entitled â€Å"Do we really need more money? † hosted by Rod Schwartz, CEO of ClearlySo enterprises, deals with the question of whether creating new social ventures or further investing capital is the most effective way to utilize government funding. The central question at hand here instigates a multitude of varying responses because there are many perspectives through which to address the problem.For example, one participator, Daniel Bassill, who works in a small non-profit business insists that â€Å"it’s not a case of more†, it’s really an urgency to find enough [capital to keep] people working on the project†. While in contrast, another member, R. Todd Johnson, who is the Global Head of Renewable Energy and Sustainability for Jones Day argues that â€Å"government money is the small stuff† and that â€Å"money and mission impact do not need to present opposite ideas†.Likewise, each of the 16 members used their own past experiences to extrapolate on their varying stances on the topic. The conversation’s characteristic of a multi dimensional response strengthens The Social Edge’s ability to act as a forum of Cosmopolitanism. This is evidenced by how the discussion’s progression goes far beyond a 2-sided debate. In this manner, contributors are exposed to aspects of culture and thinking they may have not previously considered and therefore begin to broaden their horizons of understanding.Cosmopolitanism relies heavily on the act of respectful conversation, where every candidate is giving out and taking in information. The Social Edge structures such an exchange of information through their implementation of community guidelines and an educated moderator. The community guidelines encourage members to share their diverse thoughts on the subject matter at hand while keeping in mind â€Å"that it’s safer, more polite, and more persuasive to take issue with people’s comments, rather than attacking them personally. † For example, R. Todd Johnson disagreed with points made by the moderator, Rod Schwartz, who then defended his argument causing Johnson to recognize Rod’s point of view by admitting his fault and offering his apologies. This fosters a secure sense of community and mutual respect between members that allows them to feel safe to â€Å"explore† topics together. Likewise, this ensures that participants are actually engaged in the conversation by listening and learning to what others have to say. This is evidenced in the first response made to the article by Daniel Bassill who admitted he was â€Å"anxious to hear what others have to say on this topic. Additionally, The Social Edge provides a moderator who facilitates and guides the progression of the conversation. They have the ability to delete offensive or irrelevant comments that detract from the effectiveness of the exchange. Lastly, Jean Piaget’s theory that a person’s cognitive ability to â€Å"make sense† of a concept is dependent upon the extent of their prior schemata, or understanding of certain â€Å"blocks† of information known as schema, simultaneously restricts and facilitates The Social Edge’s performance as example of Cosmopolitanism.