There's actually a wonderful quote from Stanley Fish, who…
“There's actually a wonderful quote from Stanley Fish, who is sometimes very polemical and with whom I don't always agree. He writes, "Freedom of speech is not an academic value. Accuracy of speech is an academic value; completeness of speech is an academic value; relevance of speech is an academic value. Each of these is directly related to the goal of academic inquiry: getting a matter of fact right."”
About This Quote
Source Essay: Academic Freedom and Responsibility, 2018
Academic speech must prioritize accuracy, completeness, and relevance over mere freedom, aiming for factual truth.
In simple terms: Truthful, relevant scholarship matters most.
Key Takeaway
Prioritize factual rigor.
Themes
academia
speech
truth
Mood
critical
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- research
- teaching
- policy making
Key Concepts
epistemology
responsibility
Questions to Reflect On
- How balance free inquiry with factual standards?
- What defines ‘relevant’ scholarship?
A Different Perspective
Strict standards can limit controversial ideas.