Reposting for the new academic year: “University should teach you to make nuanced judgments. If you think there are only your views, and everyone else is Hitler, that’s a problem with you. You’re not an educated mind yet.” From my interview in Toronto’s Metro Canada newspaper’s “Defining Free Speech on Campus,” (page 9) as one […]
“University should teach you to make nuanced judgments” Read More »
Things have only gotten worse on campuses in the last five years. But Nick Gillespie’s interview of the excellent Kors on “Campus Speech Codes, Libertarianism, & The Case for the Humanities” is timelessly relevant.
Alan Charles Kors on free speech and education Read More »
For weekend readers, two articles from me this week on the campus battles: “Should Politicians Force Diversity at Universities?” Published by the Berens Foundation’s The Right Insight. Excerpt on politicized universities: “Politicians must then choose either (1) to fail in their responsibilities to taxpayers by continuing to spend their money on educationally irresponsible institutions, or
Universities: Forced diversity? Nuanced judgment? Read More »
I’m featured in Toronto’s Metro Canada newspaper’s “Defining Free Speech on Campus,” (page 9) as one of three perspectives on the current suppression/censorship versus tolerance/liberalism antagonisms. The other two participants are Denio Lourenco and Zachary Strong, who take opposite stances on University of Toronto’s Jordan Peterson. Metro reporter Genna Buck did the interviews and compiled
Featured in Canada’s *Metro* — free speech on campus Read More »
“If the growth of reason is to continue, and human rationality to survive, then the diversity of individuals and their opinions, aims, and purposes must never be interfered with …. Even the emotionally satisfying appeal for a common purpose, however excellent, is an appeal to abandon all rival moral opinions and the cross-criticisms and arguments
Karl Popper on diversity of opinion and values [quotation] Read More »
For some years outside my office door, I’ve had posted this excerpt from the American Association of University Professors Declaration of Principles on Academic Freedom and Academic Tenure (1915): “The university teacher, in giving instruction upon controversial matters, while he is under no obligation to hide his own opinion under a mountain of equivocal verbiage,
Professors who deserve their positions Read More »
Via Vinay Kolhatkar, this news item about the Iranian government’s decision earlier this year to censor dangerous words such as wine and elephant. From The Telegraph‘s report: Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader, has urged the culture ministry to “focus on producing appealing books and films, designing video games, and developing attractive and meaningful toys”
Censorship in Iran — no surprises, but still … Read More »
