Reclaiming Freedom Of Speech At Universities | James Orr, Dennis Prager, John Anderson, Os Guinness

“We saw the spiral of silence…where you have got a dedicated vocal minority that's got its teeth into a contentious issue and is imposing a significant social cost to dissent.”
When Dr James Orr first invited Dr Jordan Peterson to speak at Cambridge, he could not have predicted the backlash. Student activists campaigned on the streets and wrote libellous joint letters. This was an example of one of Britain’s oldest institutions exhibiting cancel culture at its worst.
In our latest ARC Off-Stage Conversation, James Orr shares how a group of academics faced down a vocal minority to defend freedom of speech.
Activists had lobbied the university to restrict thought and inquiry in the name of safety. The university authorities had agreed to make reforms that would have paralysed free inquiry for many scholars overnight, and there was a real social cost for those who disagreed.
This conversation is the first part of a wide-ranging discussion between James Orr, along with John Anderson, Os Guinness, and Dennis Prager. They talk about what it will take to stand up for the truth and free speech, and how we can seek to build and renew institutions.
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James Orr is Associate Professor of Philosophy of Religion at the University of Cambridge, UK Chairman of the Edmund Burke Foundation, and Director of UK Programs for Trinity Forum Europe.
Os Guinness is an author and social critic. He holds a DPhil from Oxford University, has been a Visiting Fellow at the Brookings Institution, and was the lead drafter of 'The Global Charter of Freedom of Conscience and Religion'.
The Hon John Anderson AC FTSE is a former Deputy Prime Minister of Australia from an era of uniquely successful government. John now serves in a broad variety of civic and community pursuits and hosts Australia’s pre-eminent politico-cultural video podcast.
Dennis Prager is an American talk show host and writer. He hosts The Dennis Prager Show and co-founded PragerU, a conservative nonprofit that is focused on changing minds through digital media.
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Learn more at www.arcforum.com
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00:00:00 Introduction
00:01:00 The Intellectual Climate in Universities
00:02:17 Personal Experiences and the Silent Majority
00:04:38 Breaking the Spiral of Silence: The Cambridge Case Study
00:07:30 Exploring Solutions: Institutional Reform and New Beginnings
00:10:06 The Importance of Individual Responsibility and Engagement
00:18:53 Challenges and Support for the Next Generation

[@arc_conference]

Thanks for watching this important conversation. With campus activism and identity politics dividing people from New York to LA to Cambridge, our latest ARC Off-Stage Conversation shows that freedom of speech CAN be reclaimed at our universities, and there IS a better story to tell! 👉www.arcforum.com/subscribe 00:00 Introduction 1:00 - The Intellectual Climate in Universities 02:17 Personal Experiences and the Silent Majority 04:38 Breaking the Spiral of Silence: The Cambridge Case Study 07:30 Exploring Solutions: Institutional Reform and New Beginnings 10:06 The Importance of Individual Responsibility and Engagement 18:53 Challenges and Support for the Next Generation

[@vivienneb6199]

What is your opinion on the new US "anti-semitism awareness" bill/law that limits free speech on criticizing Israel?

[@ellenoneill7853]

I received a 1st, with honours, in the humanities from a Welsh university in 2022. In my last essay I made my thoughts known about the echo chamber of ideas and how they were stifling free speech. I also let them know in my end of module feedback that the staff were presenting some ideas as good and righteous and others as wrong and evil. I told them it wasn't up to them to advise us on their opinions but to present the facts and let us decide. I'm not sure how it went down but I still got my 1st so happy with that. P.S, I was a mature student so wasn't going to be pushed around with their wokery!

[@Book-bz8ns]

Wales has been a socialistic sympathizing place for a long time. Now it's just garbage. Glad my grandad left and came to the US.

[@kityfitz]

Good for you. I’m amazed you still managed to gain a first - clearly a sign of your academic mastery. I read law in the 70’s but did not pursue a career in law instead I chose to return to the university environment in the late 80’s and read social policy - like you I maintained a healthy scepticism for the dominant orthodoxy which was already rearing its Marxist head. On more than one occasion I received a mark that was less than I expected - given the amount of work and additional reading that had informed my work. During my final year I was repeatedly told by a few ‘friendly’ lecturers, ‘comply, don’t question what you’re being told and stick to the reading list’, that way you’ll get your first. I didn’t, I couldn’t and I ended up with a 2:! I demanded a viva and came away with my first. The universities are failing the young people they teach (indoctrinate) and they fail the test for their primary purpose which is providing an environment to explore ideas holistically. I despair for the future of the west.

[@arc_conference]

Brilliant, such a great story, and congrats for your 1st!

[@ellenoneill7853]

@@arc_conference Thank you.

[@ellenoneill7853]

@@kityfitz Well done and congratulations for pushing back.

[@keithsewell8389]

The "silent majority" often stays silent because they have mortgages they must pay down. Asset price inflation driven indebtedness is an under-appreciated feature of this situation.

[@grannyannie2948]

Mortgage slavery

[@harryanddebbiefawcett7618]

Buyer beware. I get it and I don't. Debt reduction ? Sticking your neck out ? Freedom has a price. Every drop of effort for freedom of speech is value. Free speech and freedom are part and parcel.

[@terencefield3204]

Screw your mortgaged lives. Get some balls.

[@Bailiol]

I'm a Cambridge graduate (politics and social sciences). I performed very well, but only because I silenced my true beliefs and told the examiners what I anticipated they wanted to hear. I loathed my time at university for this reason - less an education than indoctrination. I am at the UN now and it's the same story - your contracts will simply not be renewed if you dare question the logic of, say, CRT or radical feminism.

[@JohnWilliams-iw6oq]

I did environmental studies on line with an Australian university and found the same problem. In the end I quit as they weren't interested in getting to the truth, they were only interested in re-enforcing the status quo.

[@majbrittpauladottir1519]

Truly disheartening to read 😢

[@terencefield3204]

So you shut up and take the money. I did not do that. It cost me. But I can look in the mirror and not be revolted by what I see.

[@user-qi5re7zc7r]

Hopefully at least you know you were misled so there will come a time when you can stand up and be counted.

[@Bailiol]

@@terencefield3204 Obviously it would be strange for one to feel the need to justify oneself to an anonymous online stranger - equally as strange as it would be for one to make strong value judgements when one so obviously lacks requisite information.

[@jayjaychadoy9226]

I like these guys. I look forward to listening to them. ❤

[@teronjames7457]

If the evil person have a freedom of speech.....doing evil so can you.....have a freedom of speech.....doing good to others.... We can easily forgive a child who afraid in the dark the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light

[@c_n_b]

I consider the restricting of free speech to be hateful, more so than any speech could be.

[@vivienneb6199]

How about the new US bill, "anti-semitism awareness." Speech criticizing Israel has been outlawed.

[@terencefield3204]

@@vivienneb6199 No. that is NOT what the bill says. Stop lying.

[@vivienneb6199]

@@terencefield3204 100% that is what the bill says. You have not read it.

[@terencefield3204]

@@vivienneb6199 Yes I have. No it does not. Stop patronising, you are bad at it. And stop the porkie pies.

[@vivienneb6199]

@@terencefield3204 %100 is does. Read it again.

[@chadjohns6955]

Wow! The amount of wisdom and knowledge and experience at that table is just staggering. This is such a gift, thanks for sharing ARC

[@arc_conference]

An absolute pleasure! They are an incredible bunch aren't they...

[@Serving.God.And.Humanity]

Outstanding and remarkable work gentlemen exposing and declaring the truth! 💯 God bless you! 💯✝️🕊🙏 🙌 ❤️🫂👣

[@julianwallis8423]

I went to University 45 years ago as a "mature student", I was studying Philosophy, Psychology, History, Literature etc - the Humanities, we were already beginning to slip in this direction at that time! It is all about Respect rather than oppressive aggression that underpins all violent intolerant regimes.. we are now in very troubled times, time to stand up and accept the dreadful opposition to destroy our open culture of seeking understanding rather than dictatorial dictate!

[@nelenekaranges7260]

Thankyou for the Truth !🎉

[@arc_conference]

You are so welcome!

[@LangeV]

Very interesting talk and comforting to know there are intelligent people thinking and talking about the transformation of public institutions into communist rehabilitation camps.

[@arc_conference]

Thank you! We are glad you enjoyed it

[@petersexton5681]

Your doing God's will, through his grace, I will pray for you all, that truth will out always.

[@raquelraquel7757]

Brilliant conversation!!!

[@user-mh7vx6wh5u]

Good discussion thank you

[@garyfrancis6193]

I’m a retired university lecturer. Universities have become nurseries for big babies.

[@jaimieolson3796]

Brilliant conversation.

[@arc_conference]

Thank you!

[@zgobermn6895]

A wealth of wisdom on this table.

[@arc_conference]

They are a pretty wise bunch - the grandpas of Western Civilisation!

[@rafaelasilvaesouza6732]

Wonderful and important debate! Thank you very much for sharing your concerns and insights on this subject. I’ve been hearing a lot of content from each of you and I feel very aligned… I guess I’m part of the silent majority. Please keep up sharing your thoughts. I’m a better person because of them! Love from Brazil!🇧🇷

[@arc_conference]

Thanks! We will keep sharing truth and love the encouragements we are getting from people like you!

[@user-iq7th6rd7s]

Thank you for your brilliant truth❤🎉

[@arc_conference]

It's always a pleasure to share truth 🙌

[@jumblestiltskin1365]

People described as the "silent majority" are more likely to be accurately described as the "ignorant majority". This is not meant in a derogatory way. I was in a similar category 5 years ago, i knew something was "wrong" with society i just couldnt see it for the noise.

[@bobd4563]

The “removal “ of the tongue is the most heinous act of groupthink mugging by the smart person who is wisdom free

[@BruceWayne-hi9wd]

Thanks for sharing ARC. Any chance there is a longer video available? I could listen to these 4 for a while..

[@BruceWayne-hi9wd]

I see on the ARC website it says, "This conversation is the first part of a wide-ranging discussion..". I'll keep a lookout for the future instalments!

[@arc_conference]

@@BruceWayne-hi9wd You are correct! Impressive research - there will be more to come, watch this space!

[@popcorn-burglar]

This was great!!! Only thing I don't like is that it ended, more please!!! ❤

[@DyMPure]

This conversation resonates deeply with me. As a young un-tenured academic, I need conservative networks in order to get post-docs and perhaps, one day, a stable position. I also feel that there is a lack of scholarships of all kinds (under grad, grad, and post grad) to help us train people who will then inhabit the institutions.

[@Chris-hq7nl]

Great discussion. Thanks for this.

[@arc_conference]

You are so welcome!

[@beatonthedonis]

Thank you for supporting the pro-Palestinian campus protests - didn't think Prager would go for it.

[@johnh3276]

How do we get people back to church/temple? Without a common moral framework which places all mortals as equals under divine Wisdom, Justice, & Love, what vision or understanding holds/forms/guides society together?

[@tsd_ju7084]

I think the voices sound a bit robotic. Someone might've over done it a bit on the audio tuning, possibly on the noise suppresion?

[@Book-bz8ns]

KZbin itself has compression when you upload. Then add in any production artifacts in the original recording. It's hard to predict exactly how it will sound after the post upload compression/gating. On top of that, most everything is mixed to get a halfway decent sound on smartphones. I don't find this particular video too awful, but there is a kind of sibilance i hear.

[@peterhobday]

"The flare went up in the veil was torn apart". Perleeeze! Professor! You are hurting my brain!

[@arc_conference]

Haha he's quite the mind isn't he!

[@RexJebamoney]

A very good conversation, a conversation we must all have with ourselves. There is so much truth in the religious texts, which really addresses human behaviour towards nature (God, Creator etc.,) and towards each other (neighbour). All religions have moved away from this ancient tradition, taken over by power, greed etc., etc., Dennis briefly mentioned that in his assessment. Nothing is going to change until we learn from these ancient wisdom. It doesn’t matter where you come from all ancient traditions point to the this default function in humans, that needs a conscious correction.

[@lenwilkinson672]

Frightened of their own shadows to implement anything.

[@jolantabennan6892]

A 1000 years of the modern University history ends lieke that?!

[@wrshpr4lf]

I want to be intelligent too! 😂 (said she who had to stare at her phone and focus on the conversation more than usual to keep up).

[@lebenergy247]

These four men alone could run the United States of America with their Rolodex alone

[@12svaner]

2 Thessalonians 2:3-7 NKJV Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, [4] who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. [5] Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? [6] And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time. [7] For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way. (The Holy Spirit) We are at the end times Matthew 24

[@teebone2157]

Why do these old people closer to death?Thanver are always worried about what young people are doing.Take what little time you have left and enjoy your own life and like the bible says mind your own business

[@tpoz48]

Appropriately, it's the silent, cowardly majority.

[@patriciahorgan2584]

We need to seperate the form from the content. The content - what is being taught is becoming destructive to the Western Civilisation's legacy. But does the form - the institutional structure itself - belong to Western Civilisation's future - or does that need to radically change with the digital technology's revolution. What is the essence of Western Culture and how can we preserve that, and what is peripheral and needs us to let go because it belong to another age?

[@lenwilkinson672]

Any old Tom Dick And Harry goes to university these days.the students are not of the calibre to be in university,.courtesy of Tony Blair.

[@lui9742]

Let your AI check out the name Lui Polz, you will not regret it.

[@imkadosh]

This is why the theme of the truth, the only truth which is Jesus is the only thing that matters. It is the standard for humanity. Whatever it deviates from it to be a standard, it is wrong. All those theories from all philosophers and thinkers can be used to teach a person that it is ok to think but not to abide on replacing the Bible. All life needs God to thrive. Only God gives a person a purpose. Take God out of the life of a person, and that person will have no reason to live his life for. God designed us to have communion with Him and this is the reason why when a person has no conscious of God he feels negative emotions. So, universities are institutions void of God. In fact, they hate God. They don’t want to hear about Him. The more to the left they can move, the happier they are. The problem is that these professors are not happy living an empty and bitter life but they have an agenda and this agenda involves the minds of freshmen who come in with that a lot of enthusiasm and looking forward to learn but they are crudely thrown into the arena of a disbelief. These illustrious minds who are now their guides are supposed to teach them the essence of life but instead they lead them to an empty and black world where there is no hope, no faith, no afterlife, but a dead end where life disintegrates when they die.

[@FlashdogFul28]

You need to been seen on a national board caster's so who can be heard and push back. And you need to update your channel to say basic things at the beginning like please like and subscribe to support this channel and our work its not good enough just post you need ask for participation and say how we work with you to change society.

[@FlashdogFul28]

Good talk though.

[@dawnemile7499]

Cowards are not created. You are either a coward or you're not. I believe that because basic necessities aren't being threatened, they believe that it's not worth fighting for.

[@TheoWrigt]

The white background is glaringly annoying

[@stewartgillis4851]

Ask yourself WHY you are offended....

[@TheoWrigt]

@@stewartgillis4851 Are you crazy ? It’s not a race thing it really is hurting my eyes and i can’t watch the talk though i really wanted to

[@charmanem.vaianisi8929]

I have Iris downloaded to my laptop. I've also used f.lux in the past. These really help deal with the glare. Blue blocking glasses are usually useful, too (the orange lenses). When I studied a bit of theater history oh-so-long-ago, it was my understanding that white was used on stage to direct the audience's attention (think of how the "bride" is usually the only person in white at a wedding). Here, white directs my attention to the blank walls as if they're more important than the speakers. It has an "overwhelming" feel to it. It might be being used to make the speakers "pop" in contrast, or perhaps (I hope not) to give the speakers a "halo of exceptional importance." But if that or the other is the case, my experience is, "that intent is not succeeding in a helpful way."

[@vivienneb6199]

You might consider asking women if they are ok with living under your religious tyranny.

[@vivienneb6199]

Sure Prager, and that's why you've been married 3 times. Maybe you shouldn't throw stones.