Boston Harper Lecture: Academic Freedom: What Is It and What Is It Good For?

Featuring Brian Leiter, Karl N. Llewellyn Professor of Jurisprudence and director of the Center for Law, Philosophy, and Human Values

Core academic freedom for faculty means freedom in research and teaching. Brian Leiter argues that limitations to this freedom are to be imposed only by the discipline in which the faculty member works, as assessed by other experts in the discipline. Academic freedom is justified for a reason given by Wilhelm von Humboldt and John Stuart Mill in the 19th century: it is conducive to the discovery and dissemination of truths about the world. In addition to reviewing this philosophical argument, Leiter will address legal approaches to academic freedom in the US, the UK, and Germany, as well as recent attempts to limit academic freedom by attributing magical powers to the mere expression of certain ideas.

Interested attendees may review a paper by Leiter on this topic.

Questions?
Contact alumniassociation@uchicago.edu or 773.702.2150.

Event Details

6:30 p.m. Registration and networking
7:00 p.m. Presentation and discussion
8:00 p.m. Reception

$20/person
$10/Maroon Loyalty Society member or recent graduate (College alumni of the past 10 years and graduate alumni of the past five years)
Free for current academic year graduates and current students
Two complimentary registrations for members of the Chicago, Harper, Odyssey, and Phoenix philanthropic societies
 

RSVP now.

Parking Information

Valet parking is available after 5 p.m. for $34. Nearby outlet parking is $20 after 5 p.m. with validation.