Arguing for a Better World

December 1, 2022

A professor of ethics at the Brighton and Sussex Medical School, Kurdish-British author Shahvisi examines how we can better understand our own beliefs--and therefore argue them more effectively as a means of promoting justice and understanding--by first examining our own deep-seated assumptions. Shahvisi has worked as an ethics consultant for Doctors Without Borders and the UK government, and UK rights were sold in a seven-way auction, presaging interest.

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Starred review from April 10, 2023
In this incisive debut, Shahvisi, a senior ethics lecturer at the Brighton and Sussex medical school, contends that philosophy “can help us to uncover and confront” ideology that underlies various forms of disempowerment and oppression. Shahvisi points to a capitalist system that forces most people “to sell our labour and exchange the money we earn”—a burden that isn’t equitably borne, as forces such as racism and ableism create a hierarchy of exploitation. While many of these forces are too deeply entrenched for individuals to spur meaningful reform, it’s still worth taking action, she notes, drawing on Kant’s concept of the categorical imperative, which suggests moral actions are those which could function beneficially if turned into universal rules. Further, she argues, real change is possible on a personal level: though an individual can’t reverse climate change, for example, it’s possible to “minimise our interpersonal contribution to racism and sexism.” More broadly, Shahvisi asserts that while global threats are often met with responses that “focus on scolding others,” what’s needed are “genuinely inclusive” movements that “make space for learning” while still holding people accountable. Firmly grounded in the philosophical spirit of critical inquiry, this entry masterfully explores nuance without losing sight of its practical stance (“We have to ask how the material world would have to change for Black lives to matter”). This is a fascinating, pragmatic resource for those who want to make a difference but don’t know where to start.

August 1, 2023
A philosophy professor attempts a cooler approach to divisive political questions. In chapters with intriguing titles like "Can You Be Racist to a White Person?" "Is It Sexist To Say Men Are Trash?" and "Has Political Correctness Gone Too Far?" Shahvisi attempts not "to be 'objective' or 'apolitical, ' if such a thing were even possible," but to "make my reasoning clear enough that those who disagree with me will at least see where we part ways." For example, the cases she examines to explore the possibility of reverse racism include Abigail Fisher, aka "Becky With the Bad Grades," who felt that her rejection by the University of Texas was racist because less qualified students of color were admitted; and Amy Cooper, the Central Park dog walker who became one of the original "Karens" when she called the police on a Black man who had asked her to leash her dog. The chapter also examines the possibility of sexism against men and ageism against baby boomers. In this case, as in just about all, Shahvisi finds that the real problem is capitalism. "While power and material resources continue to be distributed as they are, there can be no such thing as 'reverse-oppression.' " If steam is pouring from your ears right now, you probably aren't going to like her answer to the question, "Do All Lives Matter?" but the path to it is instructive. She identifies three different types of objections to the assertion that Black lives matter, calling them the color-blind response, the "whataboutery" response, and the white supremacist response, breaking each down to discover the assumptions it rests on. Particularly interesting chapters analyze "splaining" of all kinds and investigate the question of whether we should #BelieveWomen, especially considering the ironic statistic that 61% of women report lying. Why? "To get out of having unwanted sex." Though conservative readers may part ways with the author, even they may be interested in the cogent analysis she provides.

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