By Simone M. Sepe, First Things , May 2, 2023
Simone M. Sepe is Chester H. Smith Professor of Law and Finance at the University of Arizona.
I have noticed a new “culture of fragility” among my fellow academics in recent years. There is an aversion to confrontation and divisive discussions. Increasingly, professors avoid any situations that could lead to disagreement, and everyone is expected to praise one another, even when faced with an objective failure. This culture of fragility stifles open dialogue and hinders collective decision-making. Collegiality has been reinterpreted as “avoiding causing discomfort to others,” rather than as a norm of respect governing genuine debate and intellectual disagreement. This culture concerns me a great deal, for it threatens our ability as educators to prepare students to navigate the complexities of reality. …
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