Big Think Have a controversial idea? Good. Here’s why you should share it. | Peter Singer
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Aug 29, 2025 
Peter Singer, a renowned moral philosopher and bioethics professor at Princeton, dives into the power of controversial ideas. He discusses the launch of the 'Journal of Controversial Ideas' as a safe space for open dialogue. Singer highlights that challenging widely accepted beliefs has historically led to progress, emphasizing the need to protect academic freedom. He argues that exploring topics like gender identity and transracialism is crucial for societal advancement and understanding.
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Value Of Discussing Controversy
- We should make ourselves more comfortable with controversial ideas because discussing them is crucial for discovering truth.
- Preventing critical examination stops us from finding which widely held beliefs are false.
Protect Controversial Scholarship
- Create safe venues for controversial scholarship and allow anonymous publication when needed.
- Use blind review and defend academic freedom against social-media-driven censorship.
Rebecca Tuvel Case Explained
- Peter Singer recounts the Rebecca Tuvel case where she compared transgender identity to racial identity and faced a petition to withdraw her article.
- The article's critique led to attacks on a young untenured philosopher instead of reasoned counterarguments.
