The Doctrine of Balance

Abstract

Five characteristics separate political indoctrination from the sphere of academic freedom: non-educativeness, controversy, extraneousness, imbalance, and bias. These five traits reflect the notion that academic freedom protects a uniquely academic function which defines its scope, justifies its privileges, strengthens its defense, and limits its applicability. Stanley Fish, in an important forthcoming book on "Versions of Academic Freedom," provides useful tops for understanding why some people support such standards and others do not. Despite his admirable lucidity however Fish succumbs to the facile argumentation that has characterized discussions of the politically trickiest of these five, i.e., imbalance. This micro symposium contribution defends the doctrine of balance against Fish's critique, explaining why and to what extent academic balance is critical to the proper exercise of academic freedom.

Keywords: Academic Freedom, Balance, Doctrine of Academic Freedom, Political Indoctrination, Bias, Stanley Fish

JEL Classification: I28