SCS 1150

SCS

What are the five general reasons people enter university?

• To get a better job

• To increase earning potential

• To pursue a specific career

• To expand knowledge and understanding

• To develop as a person

What is the main purpose of a liberal education according to A.C. Grayling?

To cultivate the mind through broad learning, critical thinking, and intellectual development rather than just job training.

According to Grayling, what should a liberal education encourage?

• Independent thought

• Intellectual curiosity

• Ethical reasoning

• Appreciation of culture and the arts

What kinds of thinking do universities oppose?

• Dogmatic thinking

• Ideological indoctrination

• Unquestioned belief

What kinds of thinking do universities oppose? (Part II)

• Anti-intellectualism

• Conformist attitudes

• Closed-mindedness

According to Mark Mercer, what are the 3 academic values universities should teach?

• Commitment to reason

• Respect for truth

• Academic freedom

What results from promoting academic values in a university setting?

• High-quality research

• Effective and honest teaching

• Encouragement of critical thinking in students

What is the "Reality-Based Community"?

A group or perspective that values knowledge grounded in evidence, logic, and verifiable facts over ideology or belief.

What does a sociologist reject as invalid knowledge?

• Superstition

• Ideology

• Personal intuition

• Common sense if not empirically tested

What does a sociologist accept as valid knowledge?

• Empirical evidence

• Logical reasoning

• Peer-reviewed research

• Systematic observation

Where is truth found, according to the reality-based community?

In verifiable evidence and systematic analysis, not in belief systems or authority claims.

What often poses as objective truth but isn’t?

• Ideology

• Propaganda

• Cultural assumptions

• Unchallenged authority

What are the two rules of the reality-based community?

• Truth is not relative – It can be discovered and tested.

• Beliefs must be constrained by reality – Not the other way around.

What happens when we ignore epistemic (knowledge) constraints?

• Decisions become ideological rather than evidence-based

• Society risks disinformation and delusion

• Reality is distorted to fit belief, leading to flawed outcomes

What’s the significance of the “Alternative Math” video in this context?

It humorously illustrates how rejecting objective truth and epistemic standards leads to irrational and dangerous conclusions.

What is truthiness, as coined by Stephen Colbert?

Truthiness is the belief in something because it feels true, regardless of facts, evidence, or logic.

How does post-truth differ from a traditional concept of truth?

In a post-truth context, objective facts become less influential than emotions and personal beliefs in shaping public opinion.

What was the impact of truthiness during the 2020 U.S. election and Capitol Riots?

Truthiness fueled election lies, misinformation, and emotionally charged narratives that led to violent outcomes like the Capitol Riots.

According to Colbert’s satire, where does truthiness come from?

From the gut, not the head — it's rooted in emotional resonance over analytical reasoning.

What are the five characteristics of a bullshitter?

• Doesn’t care about the truth

• Aims to persuade or impress

• Is indifferent to facts

• Relies on emotional appeal

• Creates noise, not clarity

How is bullshit different from lying?

A liar knows the truth and hides it. A bullshitter doesn’t care whether something is true or false they just want it to work.

Which media outlet is frequently cited in class as an example of truthiness and bullshit dissemination?

Fox News

What phrase was famously used by Bill O’Reilly that embodies bullshit rhetoric?

“Shut up!”

What’s a comedic example used to illustrate bullshitting?

George Costanza in Seinfeld—his absurd logic in "The Fire" episode.

What example is given of misinformation in politics regarding euthanasia?

Rick Santorum falsely claimed the Dutch government was euthanizing the elderly, leading to outrage in the Netherlands.

What are the core beliefs of liberalism?

• Limit state power (least intrusive laws)

• Limit the power of state proxies (e.g., police, gov’t-funded institutions)

• Limit majority rule over minorities

• Support pluralism (freedom to choose one’s own version of the “good life”)

• Protect basic constitutional freedoms (e.g., free speech)

• Limit only behaviour that is objectively harmful (Mill’s Harm Principle)

According to John Stuart Mill, when should speech be limited?

Only when it causes objective harm to others — not just offense or discomfort.

What are the three conditions for substantive free speech?

• Liberty to communicate

• Audience comprehension of ideas

• Genuine exchange of ideas

What is muscular liberalism? What are its two main faults?

Muscular liberalism aggressively defends liberal values, often by restricting illiberal views.
Faults:

1. Can become authoritarian in suppressing dissent

2. Risks being hypocritical (preaches freedom but imposes control)

What is multicultural liberalism? What are its two main faults?

Multicultural liberalism promotes tolerance for all cultural expressions.
Faults:

1. May tolerate illiberal values within minority groups

2. Can undermine shared liberal principles in favor of “cultural respect”

Who was Jim Keegstra, and what was he charged with?

A high school teacher charged in 1984 with wilfully promoting hatred against Jews under section 281(2) of the Criminal Code (now 319(2)).

What was Keegstra’s sentence?

• One-year suspended sentence

• 200 hours of community service

• One year of probation

What was the 1990 Supreme Court decision in Canada (Human Rights Commission) v. Taylor about?

It upheld the constitutionality of hate speech laws under the Canadian Human Rights Act, balancing free speech with protection from hate.

What was the 2013 decision in Whatcott about?

The Supreme Court upheld the right to restrict speech that exposes people to hatred — reaffirming that freedom of expression is not absolute when it causes real harm.

Why is the question “Who defines harm?” critical in free speech debates?

Because definitions of harm are political, subjective, and contested — often shaped by those in power or influenced by social norms (e.g., Gaza campus protests).

What is Milton’s Curse in the context of universities?

It is tension between freedom of expression and social/political pressure to conform stemming from John Milton’s defense of free speech, warning that censorship undermines truth and knowledge.

What happened at Hamline University involving Prof. Erika López Prater?

She was not rehired after showing a historical Islamic painting of the Prophet Muhammad in an art history class — sparking a national debate over academic freedom vs. religious sensitivity.

What happened to Prof. Brett Weinstein at Evergreen State College?

He opposed a campus event asking white students and staff to stay off campus for a day. He was harassed and ultimately resigned, citing a breakdown in tolerance for dissenting view

What was the University of Ottawa yoga class controversy about?

Yoga classes were cancelled over concerns of cultural appropriation and "cultural genocide" — raising questions about how far institutions should go to avoid offense.

Why was a U of O medical student suspended in 2024?

For posting pro-Palestinian content on social media. The university claimed it was misconduct, but the student argued it was a violation of his freedom of expression. He was later reinstated but refused to return.

What common thread links all the Lecture 5 case studies?

They reveal how academic freedom is increasingly challenged by institutional, political, and cultural pressures — especially when controversial or dissenting views are expressed.

According to Policy 121, should universities protect students and staff from controversial views?

No. The policy explicitly states universities should not shield the community from controversial or objectionable opinions.

Who is Verushka Lieutenant-Duval, and what happened in her case?

A University of Ottawa professor who was suspended in 2020 after mentioning the N-word in a lecture while discussing the use vs. mention distinction of slurs in language and literature. Her case sparked national debate over academic freedom and anti-racism.

What is the Eradicationist Viewpoint on racial slurs in academia?

This stance holds that certain words (like racial slurs) should never be mentioned, regardless of context or intent—especially by white speakers.

What are the five key eradicationist arguments?

A) Context doesn’t matter if the speaker is white
B) Standards are applied arbitrarily (e.g., films vs. classrooms)
C) No distinction between use and mention
D) Strategic hyperbole is used ("words are violence")
E) Confusion arises when the speaker is of mixed ethnicity

What does Elizabeth Stordeur Pryor argue from an eradicationist view?

She believes discussions about slurs should be carefully framed, acknowledging historical weight and emotional harm, and that educators must consider student trauma and positionality.

What is the Accommodationist Viewpoint on racial slurs in class?

It supports discussing slurs when contextually justified (e.g., legal cases, literature, critical theory), emphasizing intent, intellectual exploration, and freedom of academic speech

What are the five key accommodationist arguments?

A) Students can still be offended even with context
B) Minority students may feel undermined or unrecognized
C) Risk of class mutiny (loss of trust or attendance)
D) Some words carry greater historical harm
E) There are other pedagogical options to get the point across

What is the “use vs. mention” distinction in the slurs debate?

• Use = employing the word in a derogatory sense

• Mention = referencing the word academically or analytically without intent to harm

According to Randall Kennedy, can racial slurs serve a purpose?

Yes — in academic, legal, and educational contexts, discussing slurs can illuminate systems of power, racism, and history. Avoiding them entirely can limit discourse.

What was the aftermath of the Lieutenant-Duval case?

• She was reinstated but chose not to return to teaching

• UOttawa faced backlash from both sides: accused of racism and of failing to support academic freedom

What central dilemma does this case illustrate?

The collision between academic freedom and identity politics, with tensions over who has the right to discuss sensitive topics and how universities should respond to student outrage.

What claim was made in the SAC report about systemic racism?

That systemic racism exists at the University of Ottawa, particularly in its disciplinary processes and institutional practices — highlighting inequities faced by Black faculty and students.

Who is Professor Joanne St. Lewis, and what was her role in this case?

A law professor at the University of Ottawa who challenged the SAC report’s methodology and later became the target of defamation by Denis Rancourt, who called her a "house negro."

What were St. Lewis’ conclusions about the SAC report’s methodology, and why were they credible?

She argued that the report lacked academic rigour and used flawed evidence. Her conclusions were credible because they were grounded in standard scholarly critique, proper legal reasoning, and peer-reviewed research.

What did Denis Rancourt do that was considered defamatory?

He publicly called St. Lewis a "house negro" in a blog post, suggesting she was complicit in institutional racism. He framed it as a political critique, but it was ruled racist and defamatory.

Why were Rancourt’s methods considered non-academic and not credible?

• Lacked peer-reviewed evidence

• Relied on personal attacks rather than scholarly analysis

• Used inflammatory, racially charged language not grounded in academic standards

What were the legal consequences for Denis Rancourt?

He was found guilty of defamation and ordered to pay damages to St. Lewis. The court rejected his argument that the slur was political commentary protected by academic freedom.

What does this legal case tell us about the limits of free speech in Canada?

Free speech does not protect defamatory or racist language — especially when it targets an individual in a malicious, harmful, and unjustified manner. Academic freedom has legal and ethical boundaries.

Why was Joanne St. Lewis' court victory significant?

It reaffirmed that Black academics have the right to defend their dignity, and that racist attacks, even under the guise of critique, are not protected under Canadian free speech laws.

How does this case connect to broader course themes?

It reflects tensions between free expression and racial justice, and shows how institutional racism, academic critique, and the law interact in real-world settings.

What happened during Janice Fiamengo's talk at the University of Ottawa?

Her lecture was shut down by student protesters who believed her views on feminism and gender issues were hate speech. This highlighted conflict between speaker rights and student activism.

What happened when Jordan Peterson spoke at McMaster University?

He was shouted down by students who opposed his views on gender pronouns and compelled speech. The event illustrated how campus activism can suppress academic discussion.

What is the definition of free speech according to Dr. J. Brian Scott?

The right to speak, write, and share ideas without government punishment; includes press freedom, peaceful assembly, political expression, and religious freedom—with legal limits like sedition, defamation, slander, and obscenity.

What is the legal definition of free expression?

The ability to seek, receive, and impart ideas through any medium, protected by international law (e.g., Universal Declaration of Human Rights) but limited by laws against treason, blasphemy, incitement to violence, etc.

What is hate speech?

Expression targeting people based on identity (race, religion, gender, etc.) that aims to vilify, incite hatred, or cause harm. Unlike offensive speech, hate speech can lead to hate crimes (e.g., violence, threats, intimidation).

How does hate speech threaten free speech?

If hate becomes normalized (e.g., in chat rooms or political echo chambers), it can silence marginalized voices—meaning true free speech becomes impossible.

What is censorship, and how does it manifest today?

The suppression of speech or information seen as offensive or dangerous. Examples include banning books, shutting down dissent in media, arts, and academia (e.g., attacks on critical race theory in U.S. schools).

What is the difference between hate speech and free speech in legal terms?

Free speech is protected until it crosses into hate, defined by intent to incite hatred or cause harm. The line is set by courts—context, impact, and intent matter.

What was “Bloody Sunday” and why is it relevant?

A 1965 civil rights march in Selma, Alabama, where peaceful protestors were brutally beaten while demanding voting rights. Symbolizes legitimate protest and the dangers of suppressing voices for justice.

What happened in the Charlottesville riots, and how does it contrast with Bloody Sunday?

White supremacists marched with torches chanting “Jews will not replace us.” The violence was incited over removing a Confederate statue—representing hate-driven protest, unlike Bloody Sunday’s civil rights cause.

What is Dr. Scott’s message about protest and civic duty?

That we are in dangerous times (politically, socially), and it is critical to use your voice, protest, and engage. Silence enables repression.

What is the meaning of “Chimes of Freedom”, and why might it be tested?

The song reflects the voices of the marginalized seeking justice and liberty. It’s a poetic tribute to freedom, aligning with course themes of speech, justice, and resistance.

What does Dr. Scott say about international development?

Anyone can be involved—it’s about community building, improving lives (like better diets in the Pacific), and standing for global human rights and dignity.