response to Peter Boghossian

Please write a response to the article. What do you think about Boghossian's arguments? How does it affect your ideas about next year? Feel free to see this as a broad assignment - write/explain/argue about whatever the article made you think about.

In the letter where Boghossian addressed his distress and frustration about the educational system, he shared interesting arguments when confronting moral ideologues, cultural appropriation, and the freedom to question. The first argument that Boghossian made that I want to comment on is that "Students at Portland State are not being taught to think. Rather, they are being trained to mimic the moral certainty of ideologues. Faculty and administrators have abdicated the university’s truth-seeking mission and instead drive intolerance of divergent beliefs and opinions. This has created a culture of offence where students are now afraid to speak openly and honestly." I believe Boghossian's statement is authentic, from having gone to multiple schools, I have realised that the "unspoken rules" of not questioning divergent beliefs and opinions is present, although the extent of this depends from school to school. When focusing on his last sentence, "This has created a culture of offence where students are now afraid to speak openly and honestly", I think that the suppression in the educational system does cause students to fear speaking openly. A second argument that was brought up in the article is; "At first, I didn’t realize how systemic this was and I believed I could question this new culture. So I began asking questions. What is the evidence that trigger warnings and safe spaces contribute to student learning? Why should racial consciousness be the lens through which we view our role as educators? How did we decide that “cultural appropriation” is immoral?" Boghossian mentions the subject of questioning racial consciousness and cultural appropriation. Although I think it is important to discuss divergent opinions, when it comes to sensitive content, personally, I think it should be questioned with caution if discussed openly unless it has been established with all contributing people that controversial opinions will be distributed. I do find it appropriate for Boghossian to question these sensitive qualities of society and that he wants to push educational institutions to contribute. If sensitive subjects were addressed in school with care, it would make society less protective of controversial questions and knowledge. A third argument that I want to comment on is; "Every idea that has advanced human freedom has always, and without fail, been initially condemned. As individuals, we often seem incapable of remembering this lesson, but that is exactly what our institutions are for: to remind us that the freedom to question is our fundamental right. Educational institutions should remind us that that right is also our duty." This was a statement by Boghossian which stuck to me the most. It is an argument he makes that I feel little need to argue with. Freedom is sought when there was non to begin with, therefore that freedom is critiqued until it becomes socially accepted, and the association between human freedom and the freedom to question, I think, is thus present.

Having read Boghossian's article has made me feel more uncertain and anxious about my future academic choices. I like to explore different perspectives and I think it is an important procedure for understanding a larger mass of people. I think it would also build up your personal character and approach to thinking and interpreting knowledge. Therefore, I would feel most comfortable in an environment that is open to discussion and exploring diverse and controversial topics.