This volume investigates the resurgence of ethical inquiry within literary and cultural studies at the turn of the twenty-first century. The editors, Beatrice Hanssen, Marjorie Garber, and Rebecca L. Walkowitz, curate a collection of essays that examine how moral philosophy intersects with aesthetic practice. By analyzing the shift away from purely political or deconstructive readings, the contributors argue for a renewed focus on the ethical dimensions of representation and the responsibility of the critic in a globalized context.

Scholars frequently cite this collection as a pivotal text for understanding the methodological shifts in literary theory during the early 2000s. The prose is dense and academic, making it most suitable for researchers and graduate students engaged in advanced philosophical or literary study.