ABSTRACT
The right of world citizenship is for Kant contingent on conditions of universal hospitality. As he defines it, this is no guest right but the right of a temporary visitor, permitted, nonetheless, to every human being. It is, however, possible that far-away countries peacefully agree on terms among themselves that are sanctioned by law. A constitution of world citizenship for humanity could finally be realized on the basis of these terms (Kant 1795: 15–16). Derrida critiques this juridical aspect as it contains a deferral element and lacks the decided unconditionality which is important for Levinas. It is also significant that for Levinas the earth grants a guest a temporary hospitality which is to be regarded as a sojourn in a dwelling (Derrida 1999: 87, 93).
