Spinoza and 'no platforming': Enlightenment thinker would have seen it as motivated by ambition rather than fear

Beth Lord; Alexander Douglas

Spinoza and 'no platforming': Enlightenment thinker would have seen it as motivated by ambition rather than fear

Beth Lord, Alexander Douglas

Philosophy

University of St Andrews

Research output: Contribution to specialist publication › Article

Abstract

The recent “no-platforming” of social historian Selina Todd and former Conservative MP Amber Rudd has reignited the debate about protecting free speech in universities. Both had their invited lectures cancelled at the last minute on the grounds of previous public statements with which the organisers disagreed.

Many people have interpreted these acts as hostile behaviour aimed at silencing certain views. But is this primarily about free speech?

Original language	English
Specialist publication	The Conversation
Publication status	Published - 11 Mar 2020

Bibliographical note

Beth Lord has previously received funding from the Arts and Humanities Research Council for her work on Spinoza.

Alexander Douglas does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

Keywords

Philosophy
Enlightenment
Amber Rudd
No Platform
Spinoza
University of Oxford
Cancel culture

Access to Document

https://theconversation.com/spinoza-and-no-platforming-enlightenment-thinker-would-have-seen-it-as-motivated-by-ambition-rather-than-fear-133379Licence: CC BY-ND

Cite this

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Spinoza and 'no platforming': Enlightenment thinker would have seen it as motivated by ambition rather than fear

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

Access to Document

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