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Free Speech and the Academic Mission. (Forum on Education & Academics).(Brief Article)
- Article from:
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National Forum
- Article date:
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September 22, 2001
- Author:
- Trout, Paul
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Copyright informationCOPYRIGHT 2001 Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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A critical function of the university to question common wisdom, investigate the unknown, and debate contentious issues. This process is how it makes knowledge and forms a consensus.
In Kindly Inquisitors: The New Attacks on Free Thought (1993), Jonathan Rauch explains why this knowledge-making function upsets people: "It does not give a damn about your feelings and happily tramples them in the name of finding truth. It allows and -- here we should be honest -- sometimes encourages offense. Self-esteem, sensitivity, respect for others' beliefs, renunciation of prejudice are all good as far as they go. But as primary social goals they are incompatible with the peaceful and ...