Status Updates From A Book Too Risky To Publish...

The endless examples of universities and colleges that intimidate & dismiss faculty over ideas is stunning. Controversial ideas from anywhere are targets, and (student) mob rule is allowed to dictate what is heard. I found a date error - which is unfortunate - as it makes me wonder about accuracy elsewhere. It wasn’t in 2006 that the TX legislature ruled that students could carry concealed handguns - it was 2016.

My take so far: Author James Flynn, as a social scientist & academic, brings up great points about poking holes in the (even unpopular) ideas of others. In a “free speech” society, such rebuttals should be done using the scientific method- not mob rule and violence. The one with unpopular ideas? If also an academic would consider logical rebuttals & modify accordingly.

Ch. 1 was mind bending, logical, & provocative. Flynn articulates an informed understanding of both liberal & conservative instincts using “hot button” issues as examples. His approach seems logical & objective, but I wonder if the rest of us would learn to stay as dispassionate in the face of provocation. It’s easy for an entitled white male to suggest that we try, so I will remain open minded & read on.

Flynn writes a book to fight for the freedom of speech of those who disagree with him. (Especially those who disagree with him on the black-white IQ gap.) Doing so increases the respect for him by people (like me) who disagree with him. Made me starting to reads his excellent book. But at the same time, I also listen to his argument against the hereditability of the black-white IQ gap.

Those who censor him are bad.

J.R.Flynn fights for the freedom of speech of people with whom he disagrees - but is censored.