Reflections on the Dühring and Brand cases: Political correctness and the current abandonment of academic autonomy to the culture of comfort

Abstract

The concept of “political correctness” (PC) does not have a clear and simple definition on which there is even a majority, let alone universal, consensus. Nevertheless, during the last decade, and especially in North America, a series of events and positions have emerged to which the term PC is at least partially applicable. I shall begin by alluding to North American PC in institutions of higher education and in scientific organizations, which I have discussed elsewhere in more detail. I suggest that North American PC has crossed the Atlantic and elaborate upon this suggestion by discussing the recent dismissal of a tenured member of the teaching staff by Edinburgh University, and relating this case to the Du¨hring dismissal.

Citation

Furedy, J.J. (2002), "Reflections on the Dühring and Brand cases: Political correctness and the current abandonment of academic autonomy to the culture of comfort", Journal of Economic Studies, Vol. 29 No. 4/5, pp. 332-344. https://doi.org/10.1108/01443580210442778