As George Orwell wrote, “to be a minority of one doesn’t make you mad.” This truth, more relevant today than ever, forms the basis for 1984’s profound conclusion; namely, when groupthink swallows individual thought, we are all doomed.
In 2015, one of my favorite free thinkers, Jonathan Haidt — author of The Anxious Generation and The Coddling of the American Mind — launched Heterodox Academy, using a wonderful saying as the 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 in partnership with Noozhawk at the Lobero Theatre.
Like the academy, we also believe truth is a process and that respectful dialogue is needed to expand our relatively staid public square.
Launching a speaker series without sponsors or foundation support is a silly quixotic endeavor, but we did it because we humbly believe it’s necessary.
Please help us prove there is an appetite for something different and provocative. Know that we are about ideas not dogma, which is why our future lineup includes:
Pete Peterson, July 23: A national champion of viewpoint diversity and dean of Pepperdine University’s School of Public Policy, Peterson will join a panel of four moderated by Noozhawk publisher and Spotlight champion Bill Macfadyen: California’s Problems, Santa Barbara’s Choices – Spotlight SB – Lobero Theatre.
Greg Lukianoff, Oct. 8: Lukianoff 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, Nov. 17: The midterm elections will be a wild ride and there is no better person to provide deep analysis about both California and national results. Liasson is one of the most respected political correspondents in America and her 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!
