Greg Lukianoff, a free speech advocate and president of FIRE, discusses cancel culture, freedom of speech, and censorship. They explore the impact of cancel culture on academia, the lack of viewpoint diversity, and the importance of cultivating curiosity. They also touch on the connection between science and freedom of speech, challenges in K-12 education, protecting literature in the curriculum, and the impact of cancel culture on mental health and society.
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Quick takeaways
Cancel culture poses a threat to free speech, stifling diverse ideas and opinions.
University administrators' involvement in cancel culture raises questions about their responsibility in protecting freedom of speech.
The growing trend of internal censorship in academia undermines intellectual diversity and open dialogue.
Strong leadership from university presidents is crucial in defending free speech and fostering an environment of respectful discourse.
Allowing hate speech and controversial speakers on campus is important for understanding different perspectives and advancing knowledge.
Labeling speech as hate speech can restrict knowledge, foster preference falsification, and potentially lead to radicalization.
Deep dives
The Rise of Cancel Culture and the Importance of Free Speech on College Campuses
Cancel culture has seen a significant uptick since around 2014, with campaigns to get people fired, expelled, or de-platformed for speech that should be protected by the First Amendment. This phenomenon has created a climate of fear and a suppression of diverse ideas and opinions. The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) is dedicated to defending freedom of speech, particularly on college campuses, and has been documenting cases of cancel culture and the impact on free speech. They emphasize the need for universities to uphold the principles of free speech and not succumb to the pressure of restricting or punishing individuals for their opinions.
The Involvement of Administrators in Encouraging Cancel Culture
One concerning aspect of cancel culture is the involvement of administrators in encouraging and organizing de-platforming and canceling events. In some cases, administrators have been found to support and even participate in shout-downs, student protests, and attempts to get professors fired. This collusion between students and administrators raises questions about the role and responsibility of university leaders in upholding freedom of speech and protecting the expression of diverse ideas.
The Impact of Cancel Culture on Professors and Academia
Cancel culture has resulted in an increasing number of attempts to get professors punished or fired for their expressed opinions. It is disheartening to see fellow professors signing petitions to have their colleagues punished, revealing a lack of integrity and a failure to uphold the principles of academic freedom. This growing trend of internal censorship within academia threatens intellectual diversity and stifles open dialogue and debate.
The Need for Leadership and Integrity in Addressing Cancel Culture
To combat cancel culture, there is a need for strong leadership and integrity from university presidents and administrators. They should take a clear stance in favor of free speech, fostering an environment that encourages open dialogue, disagreement, and respectful discourse. It is vital to distinguish between peaceful protests and attempts to suppress speech, ensuring that the latter is not tolerated. By actively defending the principles of free speech and academic freedom, universities can foster an environment that values diverse viewpoints and intellectual growth.
Understanding the effects of cancel culture on freedom of speech
Cancel culture and the perfect rhetorical fortress are discussed, highlighting how they hinder open discourse and suppress differing opinions. The impact of cancel culture on academia is explored, with examples of professors facing backlash for expressing unpopular views, including Jennifer Se at Levi's. It is argued that allowing hate speech and controversial speakers on campus is important for understanding different perspectives and advancing knowledge. The pure informational theory of freedom of speech is proposed, emphasizing the need to know what people really think, even if their ideas are offensive or wrong.
The role of hate speech in the development of free speech rights
The discussion delves into the origins of the hate speech concept and its impact on free speech rights. Criticism is raised against categorizing certain speech as hate speech, as it is subjective and can lead to limitations on speech that is merely offensive. The harmful consequences of labeling speech as hate speech are explored, including preference falsification, the restriction of knowledge, and the potential to exacerbate radicalization. The importance of protecting all speech, even offensive or wrong speech, is emphasized for the pursuit of truth and the prevention of totalitarianism.
Examining the effect of cancel culture on expertise and the COVID-19 pandemic
The podcast episode highlights the detrimental impact of cancel culture on expertise, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. Examples, such as Jennifer Se at Levi's, demonstrate how expressing dissenting views can lead to backlash and attempts to silence individuals. The conversation emphasizes the importance of allowing diverse opinions and examining the origins and motivations behind controversial ideas. It is argued that even if certain speech may cause short-term harm, the long-term benefits of freedom of speech in advancing knowledge and debunking unfounded beliefs are crucial.
Exploring the responsibility of providing a platform for diverse voices
The podcast delves into the ethical considerations of providing a platform for diverse voices, including those with extremist views. The importance of skillfully engaging in conversations with different perspectives is emphasized, acknowledging the need for deep historical knowledge and empathy. The responsibility to approach divisive topics with compassion and contextual understanding is highlighted. Curiosity and a commitment to seeking the truth are advocated as essential drivers for promoting love and understanding in discussions.
The Importance of Deep Conversations and Understanding
Deep and meaningful conversations, like those found in documentaries or biographies, are crucial for gaining a better understanding of individuals and their perspectives. By investing time in studying their lives, psychology, and historical context, interviewers can create high-quality conversations that foster empathy and highlight our common humanity.
The Need for Genuine Dialogue and Challenging Ideas
In the age of cancel culture, it is essential to encourage authentic dialogue and embrace the discomfort of challenging ideas. Instead of promoting a culture of censorship and intolerance, individuals should strive for intellectual humility, curiosity, and the acknowledgment that nobody knows everything. By fostering a space where people can be wrong, learn, and be curious, we can work towards a better society.
The Potential of Social Media and the Printing Press
While social media can be a disruptive and chaotic force, much like the printing press in the past, it has the potential for immense positive impact. Social media offers billions of eyes and voices to solve problems, challenge ideas, and establish new authorities based on trust and integrity. By aligning the incentives of social media platforms with users' long-term fulfillment, challenging them just the right amount, and encouraging education and critical thinking, we can shape a better, more positive online environment.
Greg Lukianoff is a free speech advocate, first-amendment attorney, president of FIRE – Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, and co-author of The Coddling of the American Mind and a new book The Canceling of the American Mind. Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors:
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OUTLINE:
Here’s the timestamps for the episode. On some podcast players you should be able to click the timestamp to jump to that time.
(00:00) – Introduction
(10:49) – Cancel culture & freedom of speech
(25:21) – Left-wing vs right-wing cancel culture
(34:06) – Religion
(36:46) – College rankings by freedom of speech
(42:54) – Deplatforming
(57:29) – Whataboutism
(1:02:32) – Steelmanning
(1:10:08) – How the left argues
(1:20:48) – Diversity, equity, and inclusion
(1:32:39) – Why colleges lean left
(1:40:17) – How the right argues
(1:44:52) – Hate speech
(1:53:39) – Platforming
(2:03:10) – Social media
(2:24:17) – Depression
(2:35:48) – Hope
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