Chapters 4-6: Story Telling and When Values Start to Speak

As you (Dr. Lambaise) mentioned in lecture Appiah intertwines his personal identity in each chapter of his book. Appiah brings up the point that part of human nature is telling stories, and he hammers this point home by doing just that, telling stories. He tells stories about his home in Ghana, the native religion (which includes witchcraft), his parents conflicting backgrounds, and he even interjects native Asante jargon. The stories Appiah tells help the reader to connect with the philosopher who's thoughts and views we will be digesting for the next hundred-some-odd pages, which Appiah would agree makes us begin to see the roots of being cosmopolitan, connecting with another human being.

Appiah veers in to a completely new idea involving the language of values in chapter four. Although we may live in the same society, we may not have the same agreement on the evaluation of values, definition of a value, or the degree to which a value should be enforced. For example (in the definition of values area), both pro-life and pro-choice Americans agree on the value of human life. The divide lies in pro-lifer's valuing that life begins at conception, and pro-choice supporters disagreeing that it is the mother's life to value and her right to choose. Same value, human life, very different meanings.

Interesting, as well, is Appiah's take that many human actions are those of habit. You do something because your parents did it, because their parents did it, because their parents did it, and so on. It does not mean it is not our belief, or it is not valued, but habits are a basic part of human nature that effects all citizens of the world.