Hermeneutical justice as the foundation of cosmopolitan literacy in a post-truth age

Abstract

Two concepts characterize the zeitgeist of the 21st century. The first is the Fourth Industrial Revolution, which provides a positivistic vision of societal transformation caused by the explosion and fusion of technologies. The second is post-truth, in which objective facts have become less influential than appeals to emotion or personal belief. The concurrent visibility of both concepts suggests their interconnection. Indeed, digital porosity, exacerbated by technological advancements, is a catalyst for post-truth. Given this climate, cosmopolitan literacies are fundamental to promoting ethical ways of living and relating to diverse others. In this paper, I argue that what is foundational to cosmopolitan literacies is hermeneutical justice. Without hermeneutical justice, all communicative practices are liable to post-truths and misinformed acts of justice. I begin by explaining the concept of hermeneutical justice and proceed to discuss its implications for cosmopolitan literacy practices.