Peter Sloterdijk on long-distance neighbourhoods

The Intellectual Live 8 Forum for Africa, which is to take place this weekend in Berlin, prompts philosopher Peter Sloterdijk to reflect on the "globalisation of compassion". He notes an "international change in the moral climate" or what could even be called a "global warming effect", which he attributes to "modern techniques for bridging distances" such as modern means of transport and ultra-high-speed news broadcasting technologies. They have created an entirely new network of virtual neighbours, virtual solidarity and virtual communities which have invalidated the basic data of conventional sociologists. People no longer need to live next to each other to feel bonded; they no longer have to be related to have feelings for each other; they no longer have to cherish the same dreams to feel solidarity with each other; they no longer have to have seen each other in person to do something for each other. I refer to the sum of these relations as long-distance neighbourhoods... If one can talk of the adventure of morals, won't this consist in the coming century above all in the cultivation of long-distance virtues?"

» to the homepage (external link, Die Zeit)
More from the press review on the subject » Social movements, » Philosophy, » Global
All available articles from » Peter Sloterdijk

» To the complete press review of Thursday, April 26, 2007