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Grandstanding Summary

Grandstanding: The Use and Abuse of Moral Talk by Justin Tosi (Assistant Professor of Philosophy, Assistant Professor of Philosophy, Texas Tech University)

We are all guilty of it. We call people terrible names in conversation or online. We vilify those with whom we disagree, and make bolder claims than we could defend. We want to be seen as taking the moral high ground not just to make a point, or move a debate forward, but to look a certain way-incensed, or compassionate, or committed to a cause. We exaggerate. In other words, we grandstand. Nowhere is this more evident than in public discourse today, and especially as it plays out across the internet. To philosophers Justin Tosi and Brandon Warmke, who have written extensively about moral grandstanding, such one-upmanship is not just annoying, but dangerous. As politics gets more and more polarized, people on both sides of the spectrum move further and further apart when they let grandstanding get in the way of engaging one another. The pollution of our most urgent conversations with self-interest damages the very causes they are meant to forward. Drawing from work in psychology, economics, and political science, and along with contemporary examples spanning the political spectrum, the authors dive deeply into why and how we grandstand. Using the analytic tools of psychology and moral philosophy, they explain what drives us to behave in this way, and what we stand to lose by taking it too far. Most importantly, they show how, by avoiding grandstanding, we can re-build a public square worth participating in.

Grandstanding Reviews

Grandstanding is an absolute MUST READ for anybody using social media to discuss the causes they care about. * Laci Green, sex educator *
Grandstanding is a valuable and timely book. It provides a lively, engaging and informed account of some of the crucial issues and troubling problems that we face, and which are disrupting liberal democratic political and social life throughout the world right now. While it will certainly stimulate conversation and debate, it is balanced and moderate in its tone Readers will, obviously, vary in their responses to both the general analysis and to the particular examples. But whether you are persuaded by this account of grandstanding or not, this is a timely, stimulating and significant book that deserves to be widely read and discussed. * Times Literary Supplement *
Tosi and Warmke keep it short and snappy. Fortunately, they do not write like the philosophers they are. ...Even if this all sounds like common sense, we probably know somebody else who should read this short, lucid and useful little book. * Longview News Journal *
I recommend this book to anyone interested in the ethics of discourse. Grandstanding is an accessible and informative introduction to a neglected topic. The book also has a light touch. Whereas delving into moral issues such as abortion and euthanasia can be depressing, grandstanding is an amusing topic to read about, and it's gratifying to see such self-promotion exposed. Tosi and Warmke do a good job of showing how grandstanding connects with issues such as political polarization, honesty, and respect for others. What they say is, by and large, persuasive. * National Review *
[A] timely and sharp new work bridging philosophy with online culture. * Nicholas Clairmont, The Washington Free Beacon *
Tosi and Warmke are nothing if not insightful. We all need to hear this message. * Scot McKnight, Christianity Today *
This may be the book of the decade at least in the sense that it explains so much behavior distinctive of or amplified by our social media-fueled decade. * Jason Brennan, 200-Proof Liberals *
Tosi and Warmke have produced something genuinely rare-a work of philosophy that addresses issues of great practical importance with writing that is lucid and accessible. Anyone concerned about a public culture of outrage and polarization will benefit from reading this book. It even explains how Nietzsche can shed light on our politics! * Dan Moller, University of Maryland, and author of Governing Least: A New England Libertarianism (OUP, 2019) *
Justin Tosi and Brandon Warmke have written a great book on a topic that has been underexplored in academic literature: moral grandstanding. Moral grandstanding occurs when someone acts on their desire to impress others by showing off their moral qualities. As Tosi and Warmke discuss, there are dangers to moral grandstanding, and those dangers have been amplified by social media, leading to 'pile-ons' and extreme outrage. Their careful analysis of this issue has practical implications for devising strategies to mitigate posturing outrage. This book is an important contribution to social philosophy, but in addition to that it is highly accessible and a very important read for those who want a better understanding of this social phenomenon. * Julia Driver, University of Texas at Austin *
We live in an age of moral outrage-every day billions plug into social media to learn about, or share, the latest source of outrage. While moral language can inspire social change, it can also fracture society, fuel conflict, and foster harassment. This highly accessible and timely book by Tosi & Warmke explains why moral grandstanding can be contagious as well as corrosive to our discourse. This excellent book is a must read for anyone interested in civil discourse, moral cognition, or social media. * Jay Van Bavel, New York University *

About Justin Tosi (Assistant Professor of Philosophy, Assistant Professor of Philosophy, Texas Tech University)

Justin Tosi is Assistant Professor of Philosophy at Texas Tech University. He works on moral, social, political, and legal philosophy. Brandon Warmke is Assistant Professor of Philosophy at Bowling Green State University. He writes about ethics and politics.

Table of Contents

Preface 1. Moral Talk Is Not Magic 2. What Is Moral Grandstanding? 3. Grandstanding: A Field Guide 4. The Social Costs of Grandstanding 5. Grandstanding and Respect 6. Would a Virtuous Person Grandstand? 7. Politics as Morality Pageant 8. What to Do About Grandstanding

Additional information

GOR012719610
9780190900151
0190900156
Grandstanding: The Use and Abuse of Moral Talk by Justin Tosi (Assistant Professor of Philosophy, Assistant Professor of Philosophy, Texas Tech University)
Used - Very Good
Hardback
Oxford University Press Inc
2020-09-10
248
N/A
Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.
This is a used book - there is no escaping the fact it has been read by someone else and it will show signs of wear and previous use. Overall we expect it to be in very good condition, but if you are not entirely satisfied please get in touch with us

Customer Reviews - Grandstanding