Jonathan Rauch, Brookings Institute senior fellow and author of The Constitution of Knowledge, is a liberal who’s concerned about free speech. In this excerpt from our recent conversation, he discusses the history of canceling of gay people in America and argues that fighting harmful ideas with evidence and winning arguments is the way to bring about change.
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I admit that I am equally shocked and dismayed that so many people seem to think that silencing and canceling is an intelligent approach to disagreement. I am tempted to conclude that this is due to a generation of "got a trophy for competing" folks, but that is, frankly, too simplistic and a bit condescending as well. As Jonathan implied, it is impossible to "win" the battle of ideas by silencing your combatants. You must meet them on the field and defeat them openly and in plain view.
it’s one source of information but if you drive looking in the rearview mirror, how do you know what’s in front of you? Is the point