Redefining A Philosophy for World Governance

This Key Concepts pivot discusses the contemporary relevance of the ancient Chinese concept of Tianxia or ‘All-Under-Heaven’ and argues the case for a new global political philosophy. ‘All-under-heaven’ is a conceptualization of the world as the composition of three realms: the physical psychological and political which places inclusivity and harmony at the heart of a global world view above other considerations transcending the notion of nation state. In a highly interconnected and globalized world the idea of Tianxia can offer a new 21st century vision of international relations and world order based on a harmonized global organization defined by the “all-inclusiveness principle.”  Promoting the ontology of co-existence and relational rationality hand in hand with rational risk aversion in a globalized world this pivot makes the case that Tianxia could offer a new vision for contemporary world order redefining the universality and legitimacy ofpolitics.