Vigorous Civility
Frederick M. Lawrence · 2018
The challenges for free expression on our campuses have never seemed greater. Lawrence, a former law school dean and university president, argues that at this moment, it is especially important to recommit ourselves to first principles where free expression is concerned and to embrace “vigorous civility.” Lawrence articulates two such first principles. First, robust free expression and free inquiry are central to the mission of all our colleges and universities. The limits of such expression are far out at the margins of expressive activity, involving behavior that threatens or instills fear in a victim or victims. Hate speech is protected; hate crimes are not. Second, hate speech, although protected, nonetheless causes harm to members of our communities. In an increasingly diverse society, there is a moral imperative for campus leaders to respond vigorously to hateful speech—not to suppress it, but to identify it for what it is and to criticize it. Lawrence’s theory of vigorous civility turns on three core commitments: 1) Assume the best in each other, and not suspect the motives of those with whom we disagree; 2) Disagree without attacking each other personally—dispute, without delegitimizing; 3) Search for common ground even when we disagree and articulate that common ground as part of the discussion.