why i’m down with free speech culture · what does a free speech culture on campus look like?...

Why I’m Down with Free Speech Culture

GREG LUKIANOFF, PRESIDENT AND CEO

How We Handle Dissenters in History

“Give me the liberty to know, to utter, and to argue freely according to conscience, above all liberties.” ― John Milton, Areopagitica (1644)

John Milton on Free Speech

A Culture of Free Speech: 1800 - 1860

Free Speech in its Forgotten Years: 1870-1920

The Rise of the First Amendment 1925 to Present:

Kindly Inquisitors (1993)

Free Speech Culture Without Free Speech Law

Free Speech Law Without Free Speech Culture

"Everyone shall be guaranteed freedom of thought and speech... The freedom of the mass media shall be guaranteed. Censorship shall be prohibited.” -- Constitution of the Russian Federation (rev. 2014)., Section 1, Ch. 1, Art. 29, Items 1 and 5.

"Citizens are guaranteed freedom of speech, the press, assembly, demonstration and association. The State shall guarantee the conditions for the free activities of democratic political parties and social organizations." -- Socialist Constitution of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (rev. 2016), Art. V, Section 67.

"Everyone shall be guaranteed freedom of thought and speech... The freedom of the mass media shall be guaranteed. Censorship shall be prohibited." -- Constitution of the Russian Federation (rev. 2014)., Section 1, Ch. 1, Art. 29, Items 1 and 5.

What Does a Free Speech Culture Look Like?

• “It’s a free country” = High tolerance for dissenters

• “Sticks & stones” = Accepts offense as part of life

• “Walk a mile in your shoes” = Admire (if not practice) the idea of empathy

• ADVANCED: “The spirit of liberty is the spirit which is not too sure that it is right” = Epistemic Humility

What Does a Free Speech Culture on Campus Look Like?

• “Put on your anthropologist/scientist hat” = practice curiosity about others

• “Play devil’s advocate” = enthusiasm for thought experimentation

• “Whenever people agree with me, I always feel I must be wrong.” – Oscar Wilde = be suspicious of confirmation bias

• ADVANCED: “I’d rather have questions that can't be answered than answers that can't be questioned.” – Richard Feynman = Liberal Science!

Greg@thefire.org

@Glukianoff

Thecoddling.com

Facebook.com/Thefireorg

TheFIRE.org