The Obligation of Scholars to Speak Out

What ethical obligations do we have to respond to world events?

(Source: Piqsels)

Somewhere in the world, something happens. It affects many people. It makes the news. The corporate news media then lines up the usual suspects to make comments on the event.

Only a small number of people are allowed to speak in the corporate news media, and they are only allowed to return if they keep their comments within acceptable parameters. Step off the path, and you are banned from the corporate information space. See, to give just one example, Mehdi Hassan. The information space is controlled to limit awareness and interpretation of events. We are continuously being nudged toward beliefs and orientations that align with political agendas.

Resisting the Nudges

Everyone has a responsibility to think for themselves and respond to events in ways that help those who are affected by events. Scholars are people who (hopefully) have experience and perspectives that empower them to offer helpful insights to others. The greater a person’s experience and knowledge, the more he or she has to share with and help others develop their own thoughts and responses. This is why those in power have nudged people toward disrespecting and dismissing scholarly expertise — to keep control of the…