Merit is a central pillar of liberal epistemology, humanism, and democracy.The scientific enterprise, built on merit, has proven effective in generating scientific andtechnological advances, reducing suffering, narrowing social gaps, and improving thequality of life globally.
Lloyd Hawkeye Robertson, President New Enlightenment Project Published in Humanist Heritage Canada, Feb. 25/23 In an October 2021 interview I told Eric Adriaans of Humanist Freedoms that our newly created organization aimed to 1) provide education on the enduring qualities of reason and compassion which define humanism; 2) affirm that the application of humanist values […]
Patrick Moreau is a professor of literature in Montreal, editor-in-chief of the journal Argument and essayist. His publications include “Ces mots qui pensent à notre place” (These words that think for us – Liber, 2017) and “La prose d’Alain Grandbois, ou lire et relire Les voyages de Marco Polo” (Nota bene, 2019). Le Devoir, January […]
By Normand Baillargeon * Le Devoir, Montréal, January 15th, 2023 I am currently editing lectures given by my dear Bertrand Russell (1872-1970) in 1950. In them he addresses the question of the philosophical and political conception of the individual. He inspires me to reflect on what I consider to be some troubling aspects of current […]
It’s done. The long-awaited Academic Freedom Act was adopted by the (Quebec) National Assembly on June 3.
Lloyd Hawkeye Robertson You might have noticed I got my hair cut earlier this month. My new hairdresser talked about a lot of things. At one point she explained why equality is not a good thing and why equity is. She said equality was like three kids each having a box on which to stand […]
Marco Fortier, Le Devoir, December 15, 2021 An independent commission set up by Quebec’s Minister of Higher Education recommends the adoption of a law on academic freedom to protect professors from censorship and guarantee students’ “right to learn”. “All ideas and subjects without exception can be debated in a rational and argued manner within universities,” […]
On August 11th, a list of ten questions was posted by Roy Speckardt (Executive Director AHA) on the American Humanist Association blog. « Signs You’re Being Co-Opted by the Far Right » On the 13th of August I posted the following comment: Roy, this list is, unfortunately, proof enough that you have been swept into […]
By Jean Delisle, Translation Professor Emeritus of the University Ottawa. The Honourable Justice Michel Bastarache, President Committee on Academic Freedom University of Ottawa Monsieur le Juge, Thank you for the opportunity to share my views on academic freedom and freedom of expression. I am a professor emeritus at the University of Ottawa, where I […]