“Two incompatible sacred values in American universities” Jon Haidt, Hayek Lecture Series
On October 6, 2016, Professor Jonathan Haidt gave a Hayek Lecture at Duke. The event was co-sponsored by the History of Political Economy (HOPE), Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE), and American Values and Institutions (AVI) programs. The event was open to the public, but also served as a guest lecture as part of Professor Jonathan Anomaly's EPI course.
Professor Haidt argues that conflicts arise at many American universities today because they pursue two potentially incompatible goals: truth and social justice. Although Haidt believes that these two goals are important, he maintains that they can conflict.
According to some versions of social justice, whenever we observe a disparity in outcomes between races, genders, or other groups, we should infer that an injustice has been committed. Haidt challenges this view of social justice and shows how it sometimes leads to violations of truth and even justice.
Haidt concludes that universities should be free to pursue whatever goals they wish – truth or social justice – but that they should make it clear which of these two goals is their “telos” – their higher goal. He ends with a discussion of his initiative, HeterodoxAcademy.org, aimed at bringing more diversity of viewpoints to universities to improve research and learning.
Professor Haidt argues that conflicts arise at many American universities today because they pursue two potentially incompatible goals: truth and social justice. Although Haidt believes that these two goals are important, he maintains that they can conflict.
According to some versions of social justice, whenever we observe a disparity in outcomes between races, genders, or other groups, we should infer that an injustice has been committed. Haidt challenges this view of social justice and shows how it sometimes leads to violations of truth and even justice.
Haidt concludes that universities should be free to pursue whatever goals they wish – truth or social justice – but that they should make it clear which of these two goals is their “telos” – their higher goal. He ends with a discussion of his initiative, HeterodoxAcademy.org, aimed at bringing more diversity of viewpoints to universities to improve research and learning.
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Produced by Shaun King, multimedia specialist in the Department of Political Science at Duke University
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