Language competence and forms of cosmopolitanism. The case of Thomas Paine

Work on cosmopolitanism does not usually address the issue of language competence. This paper looks at Thomas Paine’s competence in French, arguably a prerequisite for his qualification as a cosmopolitan radical and revolutionary. It will argue that although Paine’s spoken production in French remained limited, it is important to take into account also his ability to read and understand it, to the extent that he could fully participate in French political debate. It will also assess the figure of Paine, and the issue of his language competence, in the light of some different views of cosmopolitanism.