On Taking Offence

In On Taking Offence, Emily McTernan develops a new, subtle, and compelling account of what it is to take offence and why taking offence is sometimes, but not always, morally justified. McTernan's admirably clear and judicious style, many vivid and timely examples, and significant moral sensitivity make this book a 'must read' for those who are interested in the nature and value of respect and, more generally, in central aspects of the moral life beyond rights and duties * Adam Cureton, Professor of Philosophy, University of Tennessee *
Emily McTernan offers an analysis of taking offence that insightfully gets past the troubling public rhetoric around this emotion. McTernan provides a sorely needed repositioning of this emotion that encourages long overdue philosophical attention to social standing and status. She lucidly details how offence can serve both to defend and destabilize social status arrangements and suggests how each of these may stimulate important moral progress. * Amy Olberding, Presidential Professor of Philosophy, University of Oklahoma *
Taking offence - how it feels, when it's appropriate, and when steps should be taken to make it less likely to happen - are familiar components of day-to-day moral and political interactions. Yet political philosophers have tip-toed around the subject, rarely engaging beyond questions of legal regulation. In her nuanced, entertaining, clear sighted and highly original analysis Emily McTernan relates taking offence to the idea of social standing and demonstrates that it should attract the attention of anyone concerned with questions of equality. * Jonathan Wolff, Alfred Landecker Professor of Values and Public Policy, Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford *
On Taking Offence is an imperative investigation into the emotional workings of the Western world. * Paul-Mikhail Catapang Podosky, Ethics *
McTernan rightly notes that contemporary moral and political philosophers have tended to neglect emotions in general, except perhaps for anger, and taking offence in particular. Her elegantly written and tightly argued book is a welcome and major contribution to this growing field of research. * Mind *
Offence has a bad reputation. Few are more aware of this than Emily McTernan, who sets out to defend taking offence against its many critics…. invaluable reading for anybody interested in social norms and freedom of expression. * Journal of Applied Philosophy *
McTernan's analysis of offence and humour is a fascinating and timely contribution to a topic that is infamous for generating lots of heat and very little light. * Critical Review of Social and Political Philosophy *
Emily McTernan's book, On Taking Offense, makes an original and important contribution to the moral psychology of offense. * Critical Review of Social and Political Philosophy *
Emily McTernan has done us a great service in providing a rich and topical philosophical account of taking offence. * Critical Review of Social and Political Philosophy *