Jordan Peterson, a Canadian Psychologist I've seen twice here in London, Ontario has been disinvited from Cambridge University.
Here's the response, in part, of the alleviated student union:
"His work and views are not representative of the student body and as such we do not see his visit as a valuable contribution to the University, but one that works in opposition to the principles of the University.”
Intellectual buckos:
You are at a university.
The point of a university is to help you formulate a unified understanding of reality through a diversity of ideas.
Where does that come from?
The word "university."
This student union, like many others, has objected to the speaker because their views don't align with their own.
That is the point of guest speakers coming.
Opposition to your ideas may help you better formulate your view of reality. Even if they are only semi-correct.
Even if you think the speaker is totally wrong it can be useful to understand someone's idea when millions of others hold the same idea.
Instead of the beauty of the Philosopher's Garden the West's once prestigious universities are becoming a swamp of reiterated propaganda. Quite frankly, it's gross.
All of Civilization is demeaned when we stop allowing for a free and open discourse of ideas; in fact I suggest to you it runs contrary to the idea of democracy itself as well. Because in order for a democracy to function people need to be free to pursue and speak about what they see as the best way forward for the society in which we live.
Am I wrong?
Let me know.
His response - [jordanbpeterson.com]
"I wish them the continued decline in relevance over the next few decades that they deeply and profoundly and diligently work toward and deserve." - JP
You're not wrong. This is now the norm for every-day discourse.
Only a constitutional republic could truly support a free and open system where everyone has a voice, a democracy has no such thing as the majority strictly rule.