As a philosopher scientist who left academia to secure my intellectual freedom so as to be able to work on grand projects that can’t be done within academia
I think it has become clear in the last five years that academic institutions no longer value free speech though they pretend that they do. More precisely, they mean that their favourite ideas should not be censored, but it has become increasingly clear that they are happy to censor debates and competing ideas. Sadly it seems that even the resistance within the academy has fallen.
I am a PhD neuroscientist who believes in the existence of God and follows the faith tradition of Christianity (that Jesus Christ was God made flesh on earth). I graduated from a major university in 2005. I have always had to self-censor myself regarding my faith/spiritual belief in scientific academic circles-then and now.
I stand with you on that. What wakes me up in a cold sweat is the prospect of a world in which the majority of citizens literally do not want the truth. In other words, they prefer a societal narrative that is crafted by humans, for humans. Such narrative (which they would call "truth", "reality", "proven", stealing the old terms) would become the operative "reality", so anything contrary would be ascribed the old terms for falsehood. In such a world, legit independent scientists would lose all power. Their superpower, the ability to uncover actual truth, would be nullified, rendering them the peddlers of "lies" and "misinformation", dangerous to the righteous goals of the public narrative. Regarding your statement about Jesus, He is Truth incarnate. The Truth became flesh, thus ascribing power and sacredness to all Truth. I wonder in this country, what is our current relationship with Truth? What happens when if relationship turns hostile? People digest so much absurd fictional entertainment these days, why should we expect they would want something different from their public officials?
I think it has become clear in the last five years that academic institutions no longer value free speech though they pretend that they do. More precisely, they mean that their favourite ideas should not be censored, but it has become increasingly clear that they are happy to censor debates and competing ideas. Sadly it seems that even the resistance within the academy has fallen.
I am a PhD neuroscientist who believes in the existence of God and follows the faith tradition of Christianity (that Jesus Christ was God made flesh on earth). I graduated from a major university in 2005. I have always had to self-censor myself regarding my faith/spiritual belief in scientific academic circles-then and now.
I stand with you on that. What wakes me up in a cold sweat is the prospect of a world in which the majority of citizens literally do not want the truth. In other words, they prefer a societal narrative that is crafted by humans, for humans. Such narrative (which they would call "truth", "reality", "proven", stealing the old terms) would become the operative "reality", so anything contrary would be ascribed the old terms for falsehood. In such a world, legit independent scientists would lose all power. Their superpower, the ability to uncover actual truth, would be nullified, rendering them the peddlers of "lies" and "misinformation", dangerous to the righteous goals of the public narrative. Regarding your statement about Jesus, He is Truth incarnate. The Truth became flesh, thus ascribing power and sacredness to all Truth. I wonder in this country, what is our current relationship with Truth? What happens when if relationship turns hostile? People digest so much absurd fictional entertainment these days, why should we expect they would want something different from their public officials?
What an awful world that would be.
Thank you, Doctor.