Moral Perception and Particularity

This philosophical work examines how moral understanding operates not through abstract principles alone, but through our emotional responses, social identities, and immediate perceptions of particular situations. Blum argues that our capacity for moral judgment is deeply shaped by these concrete, contextual factors, challenging purely rationalist accounts of ethics. The essays explore the nuanced ways we perceive moral salience in the real world, moving beyond rule-based reasoning. This is a rigorous investigation into the complex fabric of ethical life.

What makes this collection distinctive is its sustained focus on the moral significance of our particular attachments and group memberships, such as family, friendship, and community. Readers interested in moral philosophy, especially virtue ethics and critiques of impartialist theories, will find a powerful case for the importance of context and relationship in ethical deliberation. The analysis offers a compelling framework for understanding the full, textured reality of how we actually live a moral life.