The challenge of democratic renewal has been vastly compounded by another development which is also mentioned in the title of this symposium. I refer to the rapid proliferation of cosmopolitan populations. The world is becoming more pluralist in fact—but it is not keeping pace in spirit. “Cosmopolitan” social patterns have not yet been matched by what I would call “a cosmopolitan ethic.”
Peoples mix and mingle, side by side, to an extent that was once unimaginable. Waves of migration indelibly change the rhythms, colours and flavours of their host communities.
Remarks by His Highness the Aga Khan at Evora University Symposium: “Cosmopolitan Society, Human Safety and Rights in Plural and Peaceful Societies” Évora, Portugal February 12, 2006
http://iis.ac.uk/view_article.asp?ContentID=106291
The challenges to tolerance are manifold — in both the developed and the developing world. The revolutionary impact of globalization means that many who never met before now intermingle continually — through modern communications media and through direct contact. The migration of populations around the world is at record levels; peoples who once lived across the world from one another, now live across the street.
But societies which have grown more pluralistic in makeup, are not always growing more pluralistic in spirit. What is needed — all across the world — is a new “cosmopolitan ethic”— rooted in a strong culture of tolerance.
Address by His Highness the Aga Khan to the Tutzing Evangelical Academy Upon Receiving the “Tolerance” Award 20 May 2006 Tutzing, Germany
http://iis.ac.uk/view_article.asp?ContentID=109417
Interview in Portuguese, with Lisbon media
Q. Upon receiving the Award for Tolerance from the Tutzing Evangelic Academy , in Germany , you stated: “Instead of shouting at one another, we should listen to each other and learn from each other”. You said that “fear is the source of intolerance”. In spite of your words and those of several religious leaders, many believers do not listen to this message. What is yet to be done?
A. There will always be limits in inter-religious dialogue, when religions, in their essence, cannot attain a consensus above a common platform, when proselytism is, therefore, worth more. There are several forms of proselytism and, in several religions, proselytism is demanded. Therefore, it is necessary to develop the principle of a cosmopolitan ethic, which is not an ethic oriented by faith, or for a society. I speak of an ethic under which all people can live within a same society, and not of a society that reflects the ethic of solely one faith. I would call that ethic, quality of life.
I have serious doubts about the ecumenical discourse, and about what it can reach, but I do not have any doubts about cosmopolitan ethics. I believe that people share the same basic worries, joys, sadness. If we can reach a consensus in terms of cosmopolitan ethics, we will have attained something which is very important.
The Qu’ran has a very important ayat [verse], in which God says: “I have created you” – “you” means mankind – “male and female, from one sole, only one soul”. This is the most extraordinary expression on the unity of the human race. It is within this context that we must work.
Q. In Lisbon , a couple of weeks ago, Rabi René Sirat suggested a sort of G8 of religious leaders. Could this be a good idea, for the progress of inter-religious dialogue?
A. Inter-religious dialogue, yes, but I would prefer that it be based upon a cosmopolitan ethic. It would have to include non-believers. Because I am talking about human society and I cannot judge an individual’s belief at any given time, in his life or mine. My experience is that belief is not necessarily constant; it varies according to age, to one’s circumstances and the family in which one was educated.
Ismailimail 
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It seems that the seeds for a cosmopolitan ethic were laid more than 50 years ago:
“All Islamic schools of thought accept it as a fundamental principle that, for centuries, for thousands of years before the advent of Mohammed, there arose from time to time messengers, illumined by Divine grace, for and amongst those races of the earth which had sufficiently advanced intellectually to comprehend such a message. Thus Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and all the Prophets of Israel are universally accepted by Islam. Muslims indeed know no limitation merely to the Prophets of Israel; they are ready to admit that there were similar Divinely-inspired messengers in other countries-Gautama Buddha, Shri Krishna, and Shri Ram in India, Socrates in Greece, the wise men of China, and many other sages and saints among peoples and civilizations of which we have now lost trace. Thus man’s soul has never been left without a specially inspired messenger from the Soul that sustains, embraces, and is the Universe.”(Memoirs of Aga Khan III, 1954)
1)Cosmopolitan: the idea that all of humanity belongs to a single moral community
2)Ethic: a guiding philosophy
3)Cosmopolitan ethic: the idea and guiding philosophy that all of humanity belongs to a single moral community.
Source: Wikipedia
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