About the Book: Beyond Moral Fundamentalism
While complex global problems cry out for solutions devised with moral
sensitivity and responsibility, a more common mentality tends to prevail, one
that assumes those going the right way ("us") are endangered by others ("them")
going the wrong way. Philosopher Steven Fesmire calls this approach "moral
fundamentalism, " the idea that only we have access to the right diagnosis and
prescription to our problems. Moral fundamentalism causes us to oversimplify,
neglect broader context, take refuge in dogmatic absolutes, ignore possibilities
for common ground, assume privileged access to the right way to proceed, and
shut off honest inquiry. Moral fundamentalism--exacerbated by