The Political Scene | The New Yorker A Conservative Professor on How to Fix Campus Culture
9 snips
Oct 6, 2025 
In this engaging discussion, Robert P. George, a Princeton professor and influential political philosopher, delves into the current state of campus culture. He critiques the secularism and leftist dominance in academia, arguing it stifles real debate. George emphasizes the importance of civil discourse, encouraging students to engage with differing viewpoints. He discusses the emotional climate shaping truth and warns against the pitfalls of self-censorship. Finally, he explores the need for merit-based evaluations while acknowledging the complexities of diversity in academia.
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Faculty Reproduce Their Own Views
- Faculty tend to reproduce themselves, leading to ideological homogeneity over time.
- Robert P. George argues this is human nature, not uniquely a left-wing problem.
Self-Censorship Stems From Social Fear
- Students and even tenured faculty routinely self-censor because of social costs, not grades.
- George cites consistent polling showing fear of vilification and lasting social-media harm.
Encourage Cross-Ideological Course Taking
- Encourage students to take courses from professors who disagree with them to broaden debate.
- George models this by co-teaching with Cornel West and inviting cross-enrollment with Peter Singer.
