As George Orwell once wrote “to be a minority of one doesn’t make you mad.” This truth, more relevant today than it was 77 years ago, forms the basis of 1984’s profound conclusion; namely, when groupthink swallows individual thought we are all doomed.
In 2015, one of my favorite free thinkers Jonathan Haidt (The Anxious Generation and The Coddling of the American Mind) launched Heterodox Academy, using a wonderful tagline: Great Minds Don’t Always Think Alike.
Since then, the Academy has cultivated an array of academic insiders to promote: “pluralism”, “inclusion”, “constructive disagreement” and “viewpoint diversity.” Their goal is to produce more “individuated” (I love this word!) students, i.e., leaders not followers.
Heterodox (defined as parting from the norm) is focused on students but aren’t we all lifelong learners, aren’t we all still students of sorts?
The idea of campus-related viewpoint diversity has been around for a while but only now is it beginning to find its way into our Zeitgeist.
Indeed, it’s the reason why Brian Goebel and I launched the Spotlight Santa Barbara Speaker Series at the Lobero with the sponsorship support of Noozhawk. Like the Academy we too believe truth is a process and that respectful dialog is needed to expand our relatively staid public square.
Launching a speaker series without sponsors or foundation support is a silly quixotic endeavorbut we did it because we humbly believe it’s necessary.
Please help us provethere is an appetite for something different and provocative. Know that we are about ideas not dogma which is why our future line-up includes:
Pete Peterson/Thursday July 23: A national champion of Viewpoint Diversity and the Dean of Pepperdine’s School of Public Policy. Pete will be part of an All-Star Panel that includes Lee Ohanian, Ashley Swearingen and Kristen Miller. Our Moderator will be Noozhawk Publisher and Spotlight champion Bill Macfadyen: California’s Problems, Santa Barbara’s Choices – Spotlight SB – Lobero Theatre
Greg Lukianoff/Thursday October 8: Greg is a best-selling author, free speech warrior and the co-author of the Coddling of the American Mind: Greg Lukianoff – Spotlight SB – Lobero Theatre
Mara Liasson/November 17: The Midterms will be a “wild ride” and there is no better person to provide deep analysis re: CA and national results. Mara is one of the most respected political correspondents in America whose roles on FOX and NPR—no easy task—make her the type of straight-shooter that Spotlight appreciates. Not yet Lobero-live.
Buy a ticket and join us on the Lobero’s Esplanade an hour before showtime when cocktails and Pence wine will be served. Help us create a community willing to parlay!
This article was written by Jeff Giordano | Visit www.SpotlightSB.com to learn more.
