Ethan Rush

Ms. Kelly Slivka

English 250 Section NQ

23 January 2017
Assignment 2; Summary of The Primacy of Practice by Kwame Anthony Appiah

In The Primacy of Practice Appiah emphasizes how societies change peoples views on

certain topics, and how through social and moral progression these viewpoints can be changed.

Appiah broke his paper into four separate categories he titled Local Agreements, Changing

Our Minds, Fighting for the Good, and Winners and Losers (50-57).

In Appiahs first portion of his essay, he writes about how within a community there is a common

understanding that even if members of the community do not agree on topics that shape their

own life, as a community they can overlook these differences to better society. Appiah gives the

example of both the Ottoman Empire, and the Moorish Empires tolerance of Jews and

Christians within their empire (50, 51). Although Ottoman and Moorish political leaders and

citizens were predominantly Muslim, they did not shun Jews within their borders.

Changing Our Minds covers topics of local social norms and how opinions are changed by

progress and cultural conversion. Appiah gives examples of men becoming willingly circumcised

to fit in with a new culture, to women in China binding and unbinding their feet to keep up with

modern traditions (52-55). In this section of the essay Appiah also mentions how some views,

such as peoples view on homosexuality evolve with awareness and exposure (54, 55).

Appiah continues the topic of homosexuality in Fighting for the Good. He shows how some

peoples morals do not coincide with their stands. Appiah gives examples of how people on both

sides of the topic of homosexuality believe it is a perversion to be a homosexual and believe

homosexuals should have the right to marry, on the contrary there are those that believe theres
Ethan Rush

Ms. Kelly Slivka

English 250 Section NQ

23 January 2017
nothing morally wrong with being homosexual, but also believe the rights of marriage should be

between a man and a woman (Appiah. 56, 57).

Winners and Losers describes how in a society, there are people who both agree and disagree

with your moral decisions and how in a society. Appiah shows how the majority will set the

moral and social norms, even if these go against your own beliefs. Appiah uses states that still

use Sharia Law as an example and how most Western states impose their beliefs on these states

through political treaties that their leaders believe will further social progress internationally(57,

58).
Ethan Rush

Ms. Kelly Slivka

English 250 Section NQ

23 January 2017
Works Cited:

Appiah, Kwame Anthony. The Primacy of Practice. Emerging: Contemporary Readings for

Writers. Barrios, Barclay. Third Edition. Bedford/St. Martins. 2016. Boston, Massachusetts,

New York, New York.