Christian Union: The Magazine Fall 2017 | Page 55

2 During his appearance on Tucker can require courage,” the academics of the political spectrum. “The same rules of engagement apply, whether Carlson Tonight, George paused to wrote. Likewise, the practice John Stuart conformity pressures are originating express gratitude for the acclaimed Mill once described as the “the tyran- from right-wing or left-wing philos- scholars who came together to high- ny of public opinion” dissuades some ophies,” said George during his ap- light the need for emerging adults to shape their world views via unfettered students from openly countering pre- pearance on Fox News. As the joint letter affirms, the “love discourse. “They are wonderful peo- vailing perspectives on political, mor- al, and related issues. Such campus of truth and the desire to attain it” ple, brilliant scholars,” he said. Ultimately, the educators im- sentiments lead some underclassmen should motivate students to think to “suppose that dominant views are so obviously correct that only a bigot or crank could question them.” Because students do not want to face alienation, the “easy, lazy way to proceed is simply by falling into line with campus orthodoxies,” the let- ter continued. That is precisely where in- tellectual initiative and bold- ness come into play. “Thinking for yourself means questioning dominant ideas, even when others insist on their being treated as un- questionable,” the professors wrote. Firestone Memorial Library at Princeton University Rather, individualistic thinking involves “taking the trouble to learn and honestly consid- independently, especially in academ- plored freshmen not to be “tyrannized er the strongest arguments to be ad- ic settings. “The central point of a by public opinion.” When embracing vanced on both or all sides of college education is to seek truth and or rejecting positions, especially in- questions.” That includes arguments to learn the skills and acquire the vir- volving morality, take time to assess for positions that some “revile and tues necessary to be a lifelong arguments for competing positions critically. want to stigmatize” and against some truth-seeker,” the professors wrote. Most importantly, “don’t get Likewise, “open-mindedness, crit- views barred from scrutiny, the schol- ical thinking, and debate are essential trapped in an echo chamber,” they ars noted. For his part, George readily em- to discovering the truth.” Such ap- wrote.| cu phasized that the rules of intellectual proaches form the “best antidotes to discourse should apply to both ends bigotry.” 53