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That's Offensive!: Criticism, Identity, Respect
That’s Offensive! examines the common assertion that to criticize someone else’s deeply held ideas or beliefs is inherently offensive. This idea, Stefan Collini argues, is unfortunately reinforced by two of the central requirements of an enlightened global treating all people with equal respect and trying to avoid words or deeds that compound existing social disadvantages. In this powerfully argued book, Collini identifies a confused form of relativism and a well-meaning condescension at the heart of such attitudes. Instead, Collini suggests that one of the most profound ways to show our respect for other people is by treating them as capable of engaging in reasoned argument and thus as equals in intellect and humanity. Collini’s ideas are timely and controversial, addressing deep issues about identity and human agency. His maxims—do not be so afraid of giving offense that you allow bad arguments to pass as though they were good ones; and do not allow your concern for the disadvantaged to exempt their beliefs from the kind of rational scrutiny to which your own must also be subjected—provide solid guiding principles for dialogue in our world today. “One of Britain’s finest essayists and writers. . . . His style is capacious, fair- minded and unbuttoned, alert to the quirks of personality and the conflicts of creative restlessness.”— Times Higher Education Supplement on Collini’s Common Reading
69 pages, Hardcover
First published February 15, 2011
About the author
Stefan Collini
29 books27 followersStefan Collini is Professor of Intellectual History and English Literature at Cambridge University. After degrees at Cambridge and Yale, he taught at the University of Sussex before moving to a post in the Faculty of English at Cambridge in 1986. He is a Fellow of the British Academy, a frequent contributor to The London Review of Books, The Times Literary Supplement, The Guardian, The Nation, and other periodicals, and an occasional broadcaster.
His research includes the relation between literature and intellectual history from the early 20th century to the present. Current research focusses on the cultural role of, and the historical assumptions expressed in, literary criticism in Britain from c.1920 to c.1970. Recent work has dealt with the question of intellectuals in 20th-century Britain, the relation between academic critics and 'men of letters', the role of cultural criticism, as well as individual essays on figures such as T.S. Eliot, F.R. Leavis, George Orwell, Raymond Williams, and Richard Hoggart. Also work on the history, and public debates about the role, of universities in Britain.
His research includes the relation between literature and intellectual history from the early 20th century to the present. Current research focusses on the cultural role of, and the historical assumptions expressed in, literary criticism in Britain from c.1920 to c.1970. Recent work has dealt with the question of intellectuals in 20th-century Britain, the relation between academic critics and 'men of letters', the role of cultural criticism, as well as individual essays on figures such as T.S. Eliot, F.R. Leavis, George Orwell, Raymond Williams, and Richard Hoggart. Also work on the history, and public debates about the role, of universities in Britain.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
February 5, 2015
It is the smallest cutest book I have ever read, can be easily covered in less than an hour, but what it sets outs to do is pretty remarkable. It is trying to bring back the actual spirit of criticism, by cleaning off all accumulated fat like political correctness and religious and racial sensitivities. For me the most important aspect in life is to engage my convictions, broadcast them publicly and than sit back and defend these concoction with my full force. Now whatever is left still, after extensive cross cultural engagement will make any left over convictions stronger and more reliable, although not absolutely watertight though.
I also enjoyed the writing style which is very difficult to follow, much like my own I am afraid :(
I also enjoyed the writing style which is very difficult to follow, much like my own I am afraid :(
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August 22, 2011AMERICANS TRAVELING ABROAD often hear this country discussed with great passion and intensity. These discussions, it will not surprise even homebodies to learn, are often critical. Nor is it surprising that the criticisms range from the uninformed to the witheringly acute; they fall on the same spectrum as American self-criticism. Foreigners can be imprecise or simply misinformed about this country—I remember being asked at a small bookstore in New Delhi why Americans would never elect a president with a postgraduate degree—but a unique (at least to us) perspective can also yield real insight. Read more...
October 21, 2012
Collini makes a good case for a well-crafted argument, that instead of group projects, students would do better to join the debate team at school to perfect their skills. By our incessant need to "not offend" each other, we inhibit our own ability to discuss, share, and learn.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews