Professor Arif Ahmed | This House Believes in the Right to Offend

November 17th 2022 at 20:00 in the Debating Chamber
Debate Results: Ayes: 217 | Absn: 140 | Noes: 72
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Thumbnail Photographer: Flo Tawns
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Third Proposition
Professor Arif Ahmed is a Professor of Philosophy at the University of Cambridge and Fellow odf Gonville and Caius College. His work applies an individualistic, aesthetic and empiricist apprroach to question in metaphysics, the theory of rational choice and philosophy of religion. He is a leading advocate for free speech and academic freedom, and has written for the Telegraph regarding these subjects. ............................................................................................................................
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[@azhivago2296]

Professor Ahmed is a genuine living hero of free speech.

[@wabbajack2]

When the bloke in the back switched pints at 11:00, I fell in love. Also, great speech by Prof. Ahmed.

[@undergroundtheatreofthearts]

Love watching Dr. Ahmed speak at these events. Look forward to seeing more of him

[@unahorgan6014]

I can’t believe people are looking at their phones at such an interesting debate!

[@fairlinda1]

Those idiots sniggering and looking at their phones are the people who will determine your future in the UK in law, media, medicine, arts, philosophy, science, etc. They are destroying our freedoms and what these people did to Prof Stock is absolutely horrendous. Thank God for people like Stock and Prof Ahmed. Those privileged idiots at Oxbridge exemplify why Britain is in the state it is.

[@crockmans1386]

Are those oxford students or toddlers..... What a disgrace.

[@nanashi7779]

@@crockmans1386 Well, considering this is at the Cambridge Union they're neither....

[@The_Scouts_Code]

they're googling the big words they've heard for the first time.

[@TheTrenchesYT]

Notes app

[@Anna-tj7mp]

That absurd heckling!

[@TinaDonovan-qc5px]

His intellect is wasted on many of the people present. He presents well and the interruptions were banal and ego driven

[@zgobermn6895]

I cross swords with Arif metaphysically, but here i agree with him and Stock.

[@mlo886]

Let him speak and after he finishes ask questions.

[@undertheriverstone]

Brilliant.

[@ianashworth5953]

Offensive sniggering and playing with iPhones in the background. Poor manners if nothing else

[@Geokinkladze]

The right to offend.

[@crockmans1386]

19 year old toddlers these students.

[@TheTrenchesYT]

@@Geokinkladze Agree with both of you. Permissible, but not beneficial.

[@binghamguevara6814]

Very broad statement that “right to offend” phrase.

[@azhivago2296]

Yeh the confusion arose I think because the Professors were thinking about the 'legal right' to offend and the others seemed to being thinking much more vaguely about some kind of 'moral right'.

[@CzarTJT]

@azhivago2296 Agreed. I imagine this is one of the reasons why this event was so frustrating to those in the crowd

[@crockmans1386]

Listen evrybody : you have absolutely no right to offend these snowflake students. They will break down and cry. And if you are right , if your argument is sound and true..... these baby students will presumably commit suicide. They are incapable of university discussion.

[@bradleyc543]

6:50 I love how he thought he had a gotcha but it wasn't even about the point of the example 😂

[@Ephmral]

Totalitarian dictatorships are the main problem. The more immediate potential threat. Everyone probably knows this deep down, even non totalitarian dictatorships. Difference is, I believe non totalitarian dictatorships and the alt right don't mind if democracies get conquered/killed by their totalitarian buddies, as it buys them time - they are, for a while at least, not the ones being attacked.

[@shadesofcool6510]

Biology is not offensive. Get a grip

[@Dr.IanPlect]

You miss the point; you merely stated your _subjective_ opinion. Opinions vary; many find aspects of biology offensive, wake up.

[@TheTrenchesYT]

@@Dr.IanPlect And you stated your subjective opinion as well, and I'm stating mine presently. This is because each of us has the right to offend (a little) on the pseudo-state of KZbin.

[@Ephmral]

My friend and I talked about China when I was 13 years old or so. I remember him saying how we we (the collective West) were helping China (an authoritarian regime) become more powerful. I said that that was a TERRIBLE expletive idea. He defended it, saying the experts agree that we should, that their system would evolve to be more like us. And I said something like 'and experts are sometimes idi ots". I respect people with learnedness, while also not seeming to do so at times, as I don't care to act submissiveness to 'superiors' in debating something. And on the topic of China I was completely right.

[@tariq_sharif]

How difficult is to buy a well fitting suit and a correct size of collar for one's shirt ... very distracting Even M&S sell them...

[@shelleyphilcox4743]

@tariqsharif6017 The content of his mind and what he has to say is imminently more interesting than being offended by his aesthetic tastes in attire. Close your eyes and listen the old fashioned way and the distraction will disappear :D

[@tariq_sharif]

@@shelleyphilcox4743 of course you are correct; I am not offended by his clothes, just disappointed (I'm 55 year father of two boys, had a lot of practice at being disappointed, not angry/offended)... Arif should just wear jeans etc. presumably that's not the dress code ... as for his words, they are always illuminating