November 21, 2024

Jeff Goldstein on the Paradox of Academia and Intellectual Freedom

On his Protein Wisdom blog, Jeff writes about an argument he’s had with a former instructor:

I don’t pretend to champion creative expression and individuality of thought, then turn around and agitate for the silencing of speech I don’t like.

I’d rather make my living, such as it as, as an indigent jerk than as a tenured hypocrite growing fat off platitudes about free speech that I don’t actually believe.

Jeff’s right, of course. What passes for intellectualism on-campus is too often the me-too political correctness demanded by university peers. Agree and you’re part of the club; disagree and you’re a pariah.

marc

Marc is a software developer, writer, and part-time political know-it-all who currently resides in Texas in the good ol' U.S.A.

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