Emily McTernan, a researcher specializing in moral, political, and legal theory, discusses her book 'On Taking Offense.' She challenges the common belief that taking offense is morally and socially pernicious, instead arguing that it is an essential part of our moral and social repertoire. The podcast delves into topics such as the concept of social standing, limits on appropriate offense taking, the relationship between humor and offense, and the virtue of taking offense as a way of correcting social inequalities.
Taking offense is an essential part of our moral and social repertoire.
Offensive jokes can elicit offense due to theories of humor and their impact on social norms.
Taking offense can be a form of resistance and a means to assert equal social standing.
Deep dives
The Importance of Supporting the New Books Network
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Exploring 'On Taking Offense' with Emily Mcturnan
The episode features an interview with Emily Mcturnan, associate professor of political theory at the University College of London, discussing her new book 'On Taking Offense.' Mcturnan explores the concept of offense-taking, highlighting its distinction from other emotions like anger and contempt. She argues that taking offense is a vital part of our moral and social repertoire, focusing on how affronts to our social standing prompt emotional responses and withdrawals. Mcturnan also discusses the importance of social norms and how offense-taking can reinforce or challenge these norms.
The Role of Offense in Humor and Social Equality
In another part of the episode, Mcturnan delves into the topic of offensive jokes and humor. She examines the tension between jokes that can be offensive and the claim that 'it's just a joke' and not to be taken seriously. Mcturnan explores various theories of humor, including superiority, tension release, and incongruity, to understand why offensive jokes often elicit offense. She discusses the significance of humor in social interactions and its potential impact on reinforcing or renegotiating social norms and equality. Mcturnan also acknowledges the complexities in analyzing offensive humor and the different norms associated with comedians versus everyday individuals.
Taking Offense as a Civic Virtue
The final chapter of the episode highlights the disposition to take offense as a civic virtue rather than a negative trait. Mcturnan argues that taking offense can play a corrective role in society, challenging affronts and violations of social norms. She pushes back against the notion that taking offense is solely about victimhood or hurt feelings. Instead, Mcturnan presents offense-taking as an act of resistance and a means to assert equal social standing. By examining offense as a civic virtue, she encourages a deeper understanding and appreciation of its role in promoting social justice and equality.
The Dynamics of Social Inequality
The podcast episode explores how social inequalities are perpetuated in society through various small acts and gestures. The speaker discusses how hierarchies are structured by unequal distribution of consideration and respect, such as certain groups receiving more gestures of consideration than others. The examples of holding doors open and unwarranted intrusions are used to illustrate how these acts can reinforce existing inequalities. The speaker also highlights the differential valuing of social contributions, such as viewing being a doctor as more valuable than being a nurse. The overall focus is on examining the patterns of social inequalities and how they are reproduced in everyday interactions.
Taking Offense as a Form of Negotiating Social Equality
The podcast episode delves into the concept of taking offense and its role in negotiating social equality. Taking offense is seen as a way of asserting one's social standing and demanding to be treated as an equal. It is described as a signal both to the person causing offense and to others that certain behaviors or actions are not acceptable. The speaker argues that taking offense can be a valuable form of resistance against unequal treatment, even if it does not lead to immediate change. Additionally, the episode discusses the limitations and complexities of determining what is considered offensive and the role of online platforms in shaping the dynamics of offense taking.
A lot of work in moral, political, and legal theory aims to define the offensive. Surprisingly, relatively little attention has been paid to the affectively intoned practice of taking offense. One consequence of this inattention is that discussion of offense-taking usually occurs within the context of popular culture critique, where many commentators lament that people today are too easily offended or take offence at too many things. The prevailing thought is that taking offence is usually morally and socially pernicious.
Emily McTernan disagrees. In On Taking Offence (Oxford 2023), she develops a novel conception of what it is to take offence, why taking offence is an essential part of our moral and social repertoire, and when the disposition to take offence is an expression of civic virtue.
Robert Talisse is the W. Alton Jones Professor of Philosophy at Vanderbilt University.
