Arts & Humanities Colloquium: Values, Politics, and Academic Freedom in the Classroom

Values, Politics, and Academic Freedom in the Classroom
David McCabe, Richard J. and Joan Head Chair in Philosophy

While there’s widespread agreement on the ideal of academic freedom in the university context, what that ideal means for college teachers remains the subject of ongoing debate. Some people believe professors in their classrooms do nothing wrong either in strongly expressing their own positions on political and social issues, or in encouraging their students to take similar positions. Others, however, worry that professors who do so undermine the sort of liberal arts education that schools like Colgate are built around. This talk will explore these debates (with special attention to the role of values in teaching) and assess ways to think about how teachers might approach these difficult questions.

This event is part of the Division of Arts & Humanities Fall 2026 Colloquium Series.