Institutions can largely do what they want. eg the Catholic Church has the right to insist all its speakers are Catholic.The principle of freedom of speech is both larger & simpler than this. Allow people who want to exchange ideas to do so. Don't force people to listen to you. https://twitter.com/ninthhostage/status/984125475856506883 …
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This does mean that that conference is not a site where anyone can talk about anything to anyone who wants to listen to it. That is not what it is for. The principle of freedom of speech is not violated because it was never a forum for freedom of speech.
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However, the organisers can uphold the principle by including scientists who have different ideas that a significant proportion wants to hear despite the objections of a faction who don't want these ideas to be heard.
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This upholds the free exchange of ideas. Those who did not want to hear the ideas could not attend or they could attend and show the problem with the ideas so that they lose credibility and fewer people want to hear them.
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Or they could refuse to allow new and controversial ideas to be discussed and have that right. But then they would be subject to just criticism that they are not upholding the values of science and the organisation would be likely to lose credibility.
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But the issue of whether all organisations should be forced to support the principle of freedom of speech is a separate one to what that principle is and what behaviours support, undermine and oppose it.
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Our piece argued for the right way to see that principle and to support it. Therefore, the response 'But institutions don't have to support it' is true but also largely irrelevant to our argument.
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I respect honest and clear arguments against the principle of freedom of speech much more than dishonest or confused misunderstandings of what it is and how supporters of it can be true to it.
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This moves the conversation on to whether an institution or an individual is or is not supporting the principle of freedom of speech and then we can argue about whether or not they should be.
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End of conversation
New conversation -
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*waits for university no-platforming advocate to pounce on this*
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