Sensitivity and Survival

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Accusations of oversensitivity are nowadays very common. Are they typically warranted? Is there in fact a scourge of snowflakes? In this lecture, Manne arguse that three things are commonly meant by over-sensitivity: over-identification of instances, over-extension of the relevant concepts, and over- reactions to the relevant harms or forms of injustice, e.g., sexism, misogyny, and racism. While acknowledging that over-sensitivity of all three kinds can and does occur, Manne highlights and explores the comparatively under-emphasized converse dangers: the under-identification of instances, the under- extension of concepts, and under-reactions or the undermining of warranted reactions, respectively. In view of this, Manne will conclude that what is called oversensitivity is often simply sensitivity: a normatively valuable and justified way of reacting to harms and injustices that often go under the radar in society as we know it.

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