Discussion about this post

User's avatar
George Hariton's avatar

I believe that Mr. Potter mischaracterizes the issue. It is not about a dual mission of universities. Rather, it s about academic inquiry. Rather, it is about the proper limits on free speech when such free speech interferes with others, whatever the circumstances (not just universities).

Clearly, there must be limits on free speech. I cannot drive through residential neighborhoods in the middle of the night with a megaphone, blaring out political or other messages. But I can drive through the same neighborhoods during the day with signs painted on the side of my truck, informing people of my views.

It is a balancing act, between the rights of the speaker and the rights of those whose activities might be disrupted by the speech. In a liberal democracy, the presumption should be in favor of free speech, but that is far from an absolute.

Universities have a special duty to prioritize free speech over prevention of other factors in the balncing act. They exist so that all kinds of ideas may be pursued. Who knows where a train of inquiry may lead? And yet, universities do declare entire areas of research off limits, e.g. evolutionary psychology, by making funding and publication very difficult. Or speakers with certainviews or connections are not given opportunities to speak to interested members of the community. I would argue that, in such cases, the proper balance has not been reached.

Expand full comment
Darcy Hickson's avatar

Mr. Potter seems to favour a restrictive approach to freedom of speech on campuses, and that this allows the exploration of ideas and challenges to research to proceed without fear of meddling external influences. I hope I understood that correctly?

Perhaps the meddling influences on campuses are inside jobs and in our post national, illiberal society, critical thinking in universities is passé. A recent example is the current trend to insert Indigenous Science on an equal footing with established enlightenment theories of discovery and freedom to challenge established data without prejudice. Anyone who attempts to discredit this trend through frank and open discussion can find themselves ostracized and out of a job.

Our institutions of higher learning are drifting into irrelevance and considering the huge amount of public funds that are paying the freight we should be concerned about the intellectual capacity of those graduating these days.

Expand full comment
20 more comments...

No posts