Jason Stanley on the Free-Speech Fallacy

The focus of the piece is on claims by Jonathan Haidt and others who are part of the Heterodox Academy that academia needs to be diversified by the addition of conservative voices.  Stanley responds:

The political diversity at issue in the writings of Heterodox Academy members is the narrow spectrum between liberals and conservatives. These categories are occasionally used as if they naturally corresponded to “Democrat” and “Republican.” This bizarrely narrow view of political diversity conveniently fits into an argument to hire conservatives, but not Marxists or critical race theorists. “Liberal” and “leftist” are used interchangeably throughout their writings, as if there isn’t a feminist critique of liberalism. Where are the Marxists or feminists in economics, a discipline that is, according to Haidt, “the only social science that has some real diversity”?

In a 2014 paper published in the Harvard Journal of Law & Public Policy, Nicholas Quinn Rosenkranz, a Heterodox Academy member and professor of law at Georgetown University, decries liberal overrepresentation in law schools. But again, most feminists, Marxists, and critical race theorists do not identify as liberals, and law schools notoriously lack advocates of these standard leftist positions. This failing of political diversity is rendered invisible by the partisan setup of this research program.

Ideology and bias

 

Ideology is a key factor in determining how people assess the credibility of scientific researchers, according to a new UBC Sauder School of Business study.

People who tend toward an elitist world view are more inclined to judge white male researchers as more credible, while people who ascribe to egalitarian beliefs are the opposite: they’re more likely to judge women or people of colour as more credible researchers.

For more, go here.

Whose anger is real?

Myisha Cherry:

 

What has been problematic about the use of anger in the media these days is the asymmetry that exists: we tend to view the anger of privileged groups (whites or male) as real and the anger of disadvantaged groups (women and minorities) as irrational or imagined. This is not new but part of a long history of emotional dismissal and the privileging of different groups to feel outlaw emotions (i.e. anger) while policing and shunning other groups (usually minorities) for feeling the same.

SCP to host prayer service addressing sexual harassment and sexual assault within the philosophical community at the Central APA

The announcement from the Society of Christian Philosophers:

Sexual harassment and assault have been serious problems within our discipline for a long time; currently, there is a great deal of anger and dismay within the philosophical community over the extent and severity of these continuing problems, the lack of open acknowledgment of the issues, and the primary and secondary harms to which victims have been subject. One of the biggest frustrations for many is the lack of visible displays of support for victims, particularly on the part of more established scholars.

With this in mind, in connection with its other continuing efforts to address this issue, and in full recognition of the fact that this is barely a beginning, the Society of Christian Philosophers is holding an ecumenical service of lament and prayer for those affected by sexual harassment and assault within the philosophical community at the Central APA: 8pm on Thursday, March 3, in the SCP suite (location will be posted here). Services of prayer form an important part of the Christian tradition of standing in solidarity with those who are suffering, of opposing the behaviors and institutional structures that contribute to their suffering, of reflecting together on our own individual or corporate complicity with perpetrators, and of lamenting the injustice done. Such prayer does not discharge our moral responsibility for the situations and structures we are part of and work within, and it is no substitute for action–rather, it functions as a reminder that we never act alone, but are always empowered by God when we work for justice and strive to create hospitable institutions to house creative work.

Anyone and everyone is welcome to join us for this service, which will be led by Marilyn McCord Adams and will last approximately 30 minutes.  Those who have questions about the service or would like to see the liturgy are welcome to contact Marilyn McCord Adams, Michael Rea, or Christina Van Dyke.