1.

Record Nr.

UNINA9910863161403321

Autore

Benn Piers

Titolo

Intellectual Freedom and the Culture Wars / / by Piers Benn

Pubbl/distr/stampa

Cham : , : Springer International Publishing : , : Imprint : Palgrave Pivot, , 2021

ISBN

9783030571078

3030571076

9783030571061

3030571068

Edizione

[1st ed. 2021.]

Descrizione fisica

1 online resource (IX, 158 p.)

Collana

Palgrave Studies in Classical Liberalism, , 2662-6489

Disciplina

323.44

100

Soggetti

Ethics

Social sciences - Philosophy

Political science - Philosophy

Technology - Philosophy

Moral Philosophy and Applied Ethics

Social Philosophy

Political Philosophy

Philosophy of Technology

Lingua di pubblicazione

Inglese

Formato

Materiale a stampa

Livello bibliografico

Monografia

Nota di contenuto

1. Freedom of Enquiry -- 2. Taking Offence -- 3. Subjective Authority and Unwelcome Facts -- 4. Power, Privilege and Identity -- 5. Friending the Enemy -- 6. The Sleep of Reason. .

Sommario/riassunto

This book offers a sustained and vigorous defence of free expression and objective enquiry situated in the context of the current culture wars. In the spirit of J. S. Mill, Benn investigates objections to the ideal of free expression in relation to harm and offence, reaching broadly liberal conclusions with reference to recent examples of attempts to curb free speech on university campuses. Accepting that some expressions can cause non-physical harms, Benn also considers objections to free speech based on certain understandings of power



and privilege. In its exploration and rejection of arguments against the possibility of obtaining objective truth, the book navigates hotly contested fields of contemporary debate, including feminism and identity politics. It challenges the dogma of social constructionism and examines current notions of identity, arguing that a case for fairness can be made without appealing to them. Offering a qualified endorsement of friendship between ideological opponents, Benn highlights common obstacles to civil and rational discussion, concluding with a rational, moral, and broadly spiritual solution to the cultural combat that monopolises present-day society. Piers Benn teaches Ethics at Fordham University, London Centre, and was recently a Visiting Lecturer in Philosophy at Heythrop College, University of London, UK. Previously he held Lectureships in Philosophy at the Universities of St. Andrews and Leeds, and in Medical Ethics & Law at Imperial College London. He is the author of Ethics (2000) and Commitment (2011). He is an occasional commentator in the national media.