Richard Stallman answer to me

[Shachar Shemesh]

On 06/06/11 03:05, Stan Goodman wrote:
> Since they themselves are students or faculty in universities,
> it occurs to them to boycott other universities, never considering that
> universities are precisely where they are most likely to find their
> soul-mates.
I think the fact that the Universities, and particularly the social 
studies faculties, are left-wing strongholds is the only argument, 
however weak, *for* the boycott.

Academic boycott is the worst oxymoron I've heard. The academia's most 
fundamental core value is free interchange of opinions in a scientific 
approach. The core reason for this is the assumption, which each and 
every member of academia should carry with him daily, that he or she 
might be wrong. The best way, according to the academic philosophy,  to 
make sure this is not the case is to make sure anyone who has a 
different opinion has the chance to be heard fairly. Hence: "Academic 
discussion" - a discussion held merely in order to make sure all sides 
of a point are covered, despite the fact that the participants already 
agree on the conclusion.

If, as you said, the Israeli academia were unanimously left wing, then 
silencing them will not significantly decrease the diversity of thought 
that the academia is supposed to encourage. It is precisely because 
Israel is a potential source for dissenting view that anyone calling for 
an academic boycott on Israel is undermining their own academic legitimacy.

Shachar

-- 
Shachar Shemesh
Lingnu Open Source Consulting Ltd.
http://www.lingnu.com

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