The DysToopeian Intolerance of the Tolerant at Cambridge University

By Douglas Murray

On Wednesday, there seemed to be some good news in the free speech wars, when the governing body of Cambridge University rejected a new set of speech codes. The rules, proposed by the Canadian lawyer turned University Vice-Chancellor, Stephen Toope, and others, would have mandated that academics and students at the university should be “respectful” of the views of others.

Of course there was an air of flagrant hypocrisy about such a speech code, since Mr Toope and his colleagues were hardly respectful to the views of Noah Carl and Jordan Peterson. So one doesn’t have to be a huge cynic or pessimist to fear that a “respect” clause might, therefore, be used in a highly political or one-sided manner by the Toope-ians. “Respect” is easily-demanded but begrudgingly given, especially by those who feel they are occupying the moral high ground; and as one of the academics who objected to the proposals, Arif Ahmed, explained to UnHerd, “respect” is also a very weak basis on which to build free speech.

Must a scientist, or anyone else at Cambridge for that matter, “respect” a flat-earther?

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Related:

Dr. Arif Ahmed: "Don't force me to respect your views"