di·ver·si·ty noun \də-ˈvər-sə-tē, dī-\
The quality or state of having many different forms, types, ideas, etc. (Merriam-Webster Dictionary Online)
Contemporarily, the concept of diversity seems to be a buzzword. Although usually referring to diversity of race, culture, religion, etc., it is also used to refer to diversity of ideas or viewpoints. While reading chapter one of Moran’s “Interdisciplinarity,” I came across a small segment that caught my attention, causing me to re-read and re-read and really chew on what Moran was arguing. It stuck with me, as this is a topic that I feel very passionate about.
Moran references the work of Immanuel Kant, titled The Conflict of the Faculties, and further, Jacques Derrida’s response to Kant’s assertions. Kant looks at the discipline of philosophy, claiming that it should be “free of the influence of government and other material concerns” (Moran 32). He imagines an almost Utopian version of the university, which exists in essentially its own neutral bubble, taking no stance on worldly subjects. As Derrida then argues, Kant’s view is unrealistic, “due simply to the fact that the university is founded” (Moran 32). A pure university free of corruption would be ideal, but because a university is founded on a set of principles and values, it inherently develops a position on world topics. That position then leaks into the university’s teachings, sometimes forcing certain viewpoints upon students.
While I disagree that Kant’s assertions of a neutral university are feasible, I agree that, in theory, this is how a university should function (but, maybe not in as extreme a manner as Kant is suggesting). It may be impossible for a university to be completely void of an opinion regarding political or social issues, but it is possible for each class, professor, and student to be introduced to all sides of an argument or topic. This allows for students to formulate informed opinions for themselves instead of uninformed opinions that are skewed and one-sided.
It is important to gather news from multiple sources in order to act as an informed citizen, and this concept flows over into academia, too. But is it really possible to reach neutrality? According to a study, 72 % of American university professors are liberal and 15 % are conservative (Kurtz, Washington Post Online). However, I believe it is possible to teach from all sides, no matter where the professor’s views fall on the political spectrum. The key is for the professors to make an honest effort to present all sides of any situation, use varying sources for information, and allow students to develop their own thoughts. If professors realize that no opinion is bad, that some students may think differently than they do, and that information presentation and grading of work should be done in a neutral way, we may reach a day where the university hovers near Kant’s ideals.