Let’s protect and cultivate

Freedom of Expression

Freedom of Expression & open-minded Inquiry are Closely Connected with individual Wellbeing, Prosperity of Society, & a Vibrant democracy. They are the essence of Intellectual Progress & the very notion of ‘Universitas’.

The reflections posted here are intended to foster a renewed debate culture especially in academia & educational institutions, for which I as a Professor of Classical Studies care as much as a father of children going through the Canadian school system. I wish our elementary schools, high schools, & universities not just to inform and direct public debates, but also to be models of free, creative, respectful thinking and talking. Diversity of thoughts and life styles can flourish in a setting of institutional neutrality and mutual respect. Disagreement can be the starting point of progress, if we manage tensions with patience and collegiality, if we seek an honest understanding of other positions, and if we maintain fair and transparent procedures of truth finding and conflict resolution.

I am here linking my blog posts with the Faculty Association of the University of Waterloo (FAUW) and the Green Party.

Part 3: Is Academic Freedom a Privilege for the Few or Vital for a Democratic Society? (Green Party of Canada - Waterloo, 5 May 2024)

Part 2: Let’s cherish institutional neutrality (FAUW, 8 April 2024)

Part 1: Let’s embrace ‘Freedom of Expression and Respectful Engagement’ (FAUW, 26 March 2024)