The website home page of the Department of Philosophy & Religious Studies’ displays a manifesto: nine members of the Department wringing their hands about the recent political campaign and its aftermath. The professors claim to “stand in solidarity with all members of our community, regardless of race, gender, religious affiliation, sexual orientation, disability, or country of origin.”
Having earned 60 credits at UNF after earning degrees elsewhere, I consider myself a member of the UNF community. The professors do not speak for me and I suspect that they do not speak for all UNF students.
The Department’s declaration reeks of the political correctness that is destroying American universities. It contains these politically correct euphemisms: “undocumented persons” (illegal aliens), “differently abled” (disabled), “LBGTQ persons” (an alphabet soup of sexual preferences). These insipid euphemisms are designed to distort reality, not to reveal it.
But what is much worse is that their statement ignores the distinction between speech and action. The professors refer to “actions, including words and statements, that are based in hate” and to “violence in language or in action.” With rare exceptions (such as incitements to violence or Justice Holmes’ famous example of shouting fire in a crowded theater), statements are not actions and they are not violence. They may be offensive or unpopular. But when they are expressions of opinion, statements are precisely what a university, and especially a department of philosophy, should encourage.
The professors do not cite any inflammatory language uttered during the campaign. Thus it is impossible to evaluate their claim that the campaign was full of “hate and bigotry.” Such claims should be based on evidence. If they are not, then a careful reader will reject them.
I hope that this overwrought manifesto is not an example of the analytic methods these professors teach their students. If it is, then any student who values intellectual rigor will be well advised to to avoid the Department of Philosophy & Religious Studies.
Author Bart Greene is a 71-year-old from Ponte Vedra. He is a post-baccalaureate student focusing in mathematics and computer science.
—
If you’d like to respond to this opinion or have a viewpoint on something else, send a letter to editor@unfspinnaker.com.
vic alvarado • Jan 9, 2017 at 12:37 pm
Furthermore, philosophy departments are crucial at the university level because thousands of years ago, it was realized that humans possess the unique capacity for knowledge, which is to be explored and analyzed. The department at UNF may have issued a disagreeable statement, in your opinion, but it is not to be avoided because of such opinion written online. The practice of philosophy is difficult for many. But all students are equally challenged to defend their arguments, not the practice itself. And unfortunately, philosophy departments have come under attack at many campuses worldwide because of the recent uptick in political complaining. You are certainly entitled to expressing your opinion, but do not sway students to avoid the department based on your opinion that professors can’t write a statement well and that would be a threat somehow. Philosophy translates to “the love of knowledge,” not “the ability to make everyone happy.”
vic alvarado • Jan 9, 2017 at 12:08 pm
Please explain what you mean by “political correctness destroying American universities.” And give examples and citations.
Politically correct terminology is simply demonstrating inclusiveness. If a person is differently abled, that person is still somebody’s brother or sister or child. If you said “my uncle…. in a wheelchair,” that person is still a person and your uncle, with an added wheelchair in the picture. Respectful language is practiced by those in bureaucratic offices all the way up to the top because it is believed that professionals treat people as people, not as the more casual labeles you want to give them. It’s not just political correctness under attack, you’re of the opinion that setting a bar for decency and professionalism is ridiculous. These are not “euphemisms.” Other professional behaviors include not using terms such as “reeks,” and not reading the phrase “We, the undersigned, stand in solidarity with” as “speaking for” you or anyone else.