Theory of Knowledge - Course Companion for Students Marija Uzunova Dang Arvin Singh Uzunov Dang

become more common, some observers
speech
asked whether these come at the expense
have
pluralism and deep dialogue. Is the university
of
shifting from being a place that is safe
campus
political differences, to a place that is safe from
for
differences? The political phenomenon
political
(or alternatively deplatforming)
No-platforming
limiting, restricting, denying or
means
access to a venue or an audience to
revoking
perspectives that might be offensive or
certain
There have been numerous instances
inflammatory.
a controversial guest speaker is blocked
where
the exception of hate speech—is
When—with
appropriate to deplatform a political view?
it
about your own answer to this question,
Think
explore the Disinvitation Database (linked
then
a crowd-sourced register of events
below),
an invited speaker has been blocked from
when
terms: Disinvitation
Search
FIRE
Database
website’s user’s guide
The
instructions on how to use the database.
contains
What do you notice about the timeline of
1.
or the profile or profession
disinvitations,
How have the topics brought up as reasons
2.
disinvitation changed over time?
for
What else do you notice about the success
3.
of disinvitations, the types of events
rate
another perspective on this issue and
For
investigation into the question
further
follow the link to the article “Why
above,
is sometimes a justifiable
no-platforming
terms: aeon Why no
Search
is sometimes a
platforming
the claim that “No-platforming
Consider
to intolerance and the
contributes
of political views” and the
polarization
that “No-platforming protects
counterclaim
the proliferation of intolerant and
against
political views”.
polarizing
in a pair or small group, come up
Working
a set of arguments and examples in
with
look at the evidence you have been able to
Next,
in support of the claims. Which claim
produce
consider the implications of your
Finally,
What are the consequences for
conclusion.
depending on whether you decide
knowledge
or in favour of no-platforming?
against
your explorations of the Disinvitation Database
In
may encounter calls for blanket bans on
you
perspectives or petitions to deny someone
certain
right to address the student public. When
the
are unsuccessful, a host of disruptive tactics
those
been used, ranging from walkouts to the
have
veto”—escalating noise and disruption
“heckler’s
the event can no longer continue.
until
have faced the criticism
No-platformers
limiting the right to speak is a threat to
that
And yet, some no-platformers argue
freedom.
a speaker who fails to explicitly condemn
that
deserves to be directly confronted.
injustice
confrontations are often not conducted
These
the spirit of respectful, or even peaceful,
in
Consequently, no-platformers
disagreement.
also been criticized for their offensive
have
and hostile actions.
language
appeal to mutual respect crops up regularly
The
conversations around campus politics, but this
in
is also central to engaging with difference
value
TOK and in the IB. To discuss the politics of
in
IV. Ethics
IV. Ethics
Practising skills: Exploring
perspectives and drawing implications
known as no-platforming shines a light on this.
support of each of these claims.
from speaking at a university campus, for example.
is more convincing? What is your conclusion?
addressing students on campus.
For reflection
Disinvitation
of the disinvited speakers?
or the political affiliation of the speakers?
position”.
respectability we turn to the example below.
justifiable position
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