What is the author's tone in On Beauty and Being Just by Elaine Scarry?

For the most part, Scarry attempts to tackle this "light" subject with a very serious, philosophic tone. Therefore, she uses formal language, often numbering her points and giving a summary of important descriptions or arguments she has just presented. At the same time, however, references to the opinions of those around her (friends, colleagues, and students) serve as a kind of informal survey of the academic community (though it is important to note that Scarry never makes explicit reference to academia; however, the overall tone and references of her text support this assumption). Her personal reflections on works of art, authors' texts, and other objects/ideas give what could be a dry, philosophical text a more personal tone, keeping the reader engaged.