Overview

Why colleges and universities live or die by free speechFree speech is under attack at colleges and universities today, as critics on and off campus challenge the value of freewheeling debate. In Speak Freely, Keith Whittington argues that universities must protect and encourage vigorous free speech because it goes to the heart of their mission to foster freedom of thought, ideological diversity, and tolerance. Examining hot-button issues such as trigger warnings, safe spaces, hate speech, disruptive protests, speaker disinvitations, and the use of social media by faculty, Speak Freely describes the dangers of empowering campus censors to limit speech and enforce orthodoxy. It explains why universities must make space for voices from both the Left and Right. And it points out how better understanding why the university lives or dies by free speech can help guide students, faculty, administrators, and alumni when faced with unpopular, hateful, or dangerous speech. Timely and vitally important, Speak Freely shows why universities can succeed only by fostering more free speech, more free thought-and a greater tolerance for both.

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9780691191522

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Reviews

A timely defense of intellectual debate and critical thinking. . . . In the current divisive political climate, Whittington shows why safeguarding the civil exchange of diverse ideas is an urgent need. -Kirkus Reviews The best of the recent books on free speech and higher education. -James Stoner, Law and Liberty Cogent and compelling. . . . Speak Freely supplies clarity and good sense to a subject that has been receiving a lot more heat than light. -Glenn C. Altschuler, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Involve[s] readers in the pleasures of confronting a difficult problem, treating the dangerous views of determined adversaries with an open mind and proceeding with greater confidence as a result. -Jonathan Marks, Wall Street Journal [A] sophisticated and coolheaded defense of free speech. -Peter Berkowitz, Real Clear Politics

A timely defense of intellectual debate and critical thinking. . . . In the current divisive political climate, Whittington shows why safeguarding the civil exchange of diverse ideas is an urgent need.--Kirkus [Keith Whittington's] book provides a cogent and compelling analysis of the 'troubling currents swirling through college campuses'. . . . Speak Freely supplies clarity and good sense to a subject that has been receiving a lot more heat than light. . . . Mr. Whittington adds a timely plea to every American, inside and outside of the academy, to give more attention and support to the foundational principles of teaching and research.---Glenn C. Altschuler, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Yet [Whittington] involves [his] readers in the pleasures of confronting a difficult problem, treating the dangerous views of determined adversaries with an open mind and proceeding with greater confidence as a result. This summer, Speak Freely will be distributed to every Princeton freshman for consideration and discussion. That's a start.---Jonathan Marks, Wall Street Journal Speak Freely is a thoughtful and compelling account of how colleges and universities came to embrace the value of free expression as central to their mission, why they should remain faithful to that value in the face of current controversies, and how they should best approach and address these issues. Carefully reasoned, balanced, and persuasive, this book will be a valuable guide for anyone who wants to better understand what's at stake in today's disputes over free speech on campus. --Geoffrey Stone, University of Chicago Law School If John Stuart Mill were around today, this is the book he might write about the free speech crisis on college campuses. Keith Whittington drills deep beneath the law and the excesses of political correctness to explain why universities' foremost mission is to make and spread knowledge, even at the cost of discomfort, offense, or pain. At a time when many universities have lost their way, Speak Freely exemplifies the clarity, civility, and compassion that they--and we--so badly need. --Jonathan Rauch, author of Kindly Inquisitors: The New Attacks on Free Thought No other book so accessibly presents the fundamental principles of the free speech tradition and applies them to contemporary campus controversies--ranging from the heckling or disinviting of campus speakers to attempts to censure faculty for social media postings. A compelling defense of the university as an enclave of reason, Speak Freely is fresh, illuminating, galvanizing, and persuasive. --Jeffrey Rosen, National Constitution Center and George Washington University Law School An astute, crucial reminder that free speech and a diversity of perspectives are necessary prerequisites for a vibrant intellectual life. Whittington's persuasive case for both comes at a critical time for all members of the university community, as well as our larger society. Speak Freely is essential reading for everyone who is concerned about higher education and intellectual freedom. --Nadine Strossen, former president of the American Civil Liberties Union and author of HATE: Why We Should Resist It with Free Speech, Not Censorship Freedom of speech is crucial to the university and democracy. Keith Whittington provides a deep exploration of the reasons why--and carefully examines contemporary challenges on college campuses. --David Boaz, executive vice president of the Cato Institute and author of The Libertarian Mind [A] sophisticated and coolheaded defense of free speech.---Peter Berkowitz, Real Clear Politics

A timely defense of intellectual debate and critical thinking. . . . In the current divisive political climate, Whittington shows why safeguarding the civil exchange of diverse ideas is an urgent need.--Kirkus [Keith Whittington's] book provides a cogent and compelling analysis of the 'troubling currents swirling through college campuses'. . . . Speak Freely supplies clarity and good sense to a subject that has been receiving a lot more heat than light. . . . Mr. Whittington adds a timely plea to every American, inside and outside of the academy, to give more attention and support to the foundational principles of teaching and research.---Glenn C. Altschuler, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Yet [Whittington] involves [his] readers in the pleasures of confronting a difficult problem, treating the dangerous views of determined adversaries with an open mind and proceeding with greater confidence as a result. This summer, Speak Freely will be distributed to every Princeton freshman for consideration and discussion. That's a start.---Jonathan Marks, Wall Street Journal Speak Freely is a thoughtful and compelling account of how colleges and universities came to embrace the value of free expression as central to their mission, why they should remain faithful to that value in the face of current controversies, and how they should best approach and address these issues. Carefully reasoned, balanced, and persuasive, this book will be a valuable guide for anyone who wants to better understand what's at stake in today's disputes over free speech on campus. --Geoffrey Stone, University of Chicago Law School An astute, crucial reminder that free speech and a diversity of perspectives are necessary prerequisites for a vibrant intellectual life. Whittington's persuasive case for both comes at a critical time for all members of the university community, as well as our larger society. Speak Freely is essential reading for everyone who is concerned about higher education and intellectual freedom. --Nadine Strossen, former president of the American Civil Liberties Union and author of HATE: Why We Should Resist It with Free Speech, Not Censorship Freedom of speech is crucial to the university and democracy. Keith Whittington provides a deep exploration of the reasons why--and carefully examines contemporary challenges on college campuses. --David Boaz, executive vice president of the Cato Institute and author of The Libertarian Mind If John Stuart Mill were around today, this is the book he might write about the free speech crisis on college campuses. Keith Whittington drills deep beneath the law and the excesses of political correctness to explain why universities' foremost mission is to make and spread knowledge, even at the cost of discomfort, offense, or pain. At a time when many universities have lost their way, Speak Freely exemplifies the clarity, civility, and compassion that they--and we--so badly need. --Jonathan Rauch, author of Kindly Inquisitors: The New Attacks on Free Thought No other book so accessibly presents the fundamental principles of the free speech tradition and applies them to contemporary campus controversies--ranging from the heckling or disinviting of campus speakers to attempts to censure faculty for social media postings. A compelling defense of the university as an enclave of reason, Speak Freely is fresh, illuminating, galvanizing, and persuasive. --Jeffrey Rosen, National Constitution Center and George Washington University Law School [A] sophisticated and coolheaded defense of free speech.---Peter Berkowitz, Real Clear Politics

Author Information

Keith E. Whittington is the David Boies Professor of Law at Yale Law School and a visiting fellow at the Hoover Institution.

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