They Say / I Blog

Courting controversy: Peter Singer on why we need to test our ideas in open debate

How do people discover if their beliefs are true or false? Philosopher Peter Singer, an emeritus professor of bioethics at Princeton University and co-editor of Journal of Controversial Ideas, argues that this can only happen through free debate of controversial issues. In this short six-minute video, Singer examines the consequences of censorship and explains why we need to get more comfortable debating uncomfortable questions.

Peter Singer, "Have a Controversial Idea? Good. Here's Why You Should Share It." BigThink, 20 October 2023.

 

The other side is not evil: Kurt Gray on how fear drives political divides

In political debates, it can be easy to dismiss the other side by turning them into stereotypes or rejecting their viewpoints as “dumb.” Sometimes, though, the rhetoric goes further, and people can accuse the other side of being immoral or even evil. Why is that? In this short video, Kurt Gray, a psychology and neuroscience professor at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, digs deep into human history to explain the evolutionary root causes of political polarization.

Kurt Gray, "The Psychology of Political Polarization: Conservatives v. Liberals," StandTogether.org, 19 January 2024.

 

Turning off the tap: Daniel Jaffee on the long-term effects of relying on bottled water after a drinking water crisis

Plastic bottled water is both a boon and a problem: it is convenient, yet it’s also more expensive than public tap water, and the empty plastic bottles often litter streets and pollute waterways. Some households, though, are stuck relying on pallets of bottled water for their everyday basic needs. In this argument, Daniel Jaffee, an associate professor of sociology at Portland State University, explains what’s at stake when a community’s only guarantee of safe drinking water comes from plastic bottles.

Daniel Jaffee, "When Communities Face Drinking Water Crises, Bottled Water Is a ‘Temporary’ Solution That Often Lasts Years – and Worsens Inequality." The Conversation, 25 October 2023.

 

To keep sight of our shared humanity: António Guterres on the collective future of Israel and Palestine

The current war in Gaza emerges from a long history of conflict between Israel and Palestine. António Guterres, the secretary general of the United Nations, makes a plea for peace in this op-ed, which was also published in the New York Times on October 13, 2023. In this piece, he urges the international community as well as Israelis and Palestinians to consider “the pull of collective memory” that shapes how people understand and discuss the conflict.

António Guterres, "Why Israel Must Reconsider Its Gaza Evacuation Order," The United Nations: The Question of Palestine, www.un.org, 13 October 2023.

 

Say yes to the bots: Sidney I. Dobrin on embracing the future of generative AI writing technologies

Lots of people are understandably nervous about AI technologies, from concerns about biased algorithms and data privacy to worries about how generative AI writing technologies might change the ways people write and what students learn. Frankly, it can all feel overwhelming. So, what should instructors and students do about generative AI writing technologies? In this essay, Sidney I. Dobrin, a professor of English, argues for a way forward and explains why he thinks it’s futile to ignore or ban generative AI writing technologies in the classroom.

Sidney I. Dobrin, "Generative AI Bots Will Change How We Write Forever—and That’s a Good Thing," The Hill, 22 July 2023

 

When college isn’t the answer: Skylar Adleta on why respect, not free college, is a better way to bridge the class divide

Free college? No thanks, writes electrician and author Skylar Adleta. Adleta explains why he believes proposals to make college tuition-free ignore the concerns of many in the working class. He argues that more employers should drop degree requirements for positions where “working experience can suffice.”

Skylar Adleta, "Free College Will Only Deepen the Class Divide: How About Respect For the Working Class?"Newsweek, 19 June 2023

 

The automation of creation: Michael Russell Gunn on what’s at stake in the Hollywood writers’ strike

In May 2023, Hollywood production ground to a halt as the Writers Guild of America, a union representing over 11,500 screenwriters, went on strike. One major contention these writers have is how they are compensated for the shows and movies people watch on streaming platforms. Underneath this issue, though, lies a bigger question, one that screenwriter Michael Russell Gunn explores in this essay: how do AI technologies threaten not just Hollywood but “the future of human work”?

Michael Russell Gunn, "I'm a Hollywood Screenwriter. This Is Why Our Strike Matters to You. BU Today, Boston University, 4 May 2023

 

Let’s play ball: Jill Filipovic on access and opportunity in youth sport leagues

In the U.S., participating in youth sports is expensive and time-consuming. As writer Jill Filipovic explains, kids from wealthier families can join costly club travel teams, but because of a lack of funding in poorer communities, there are fewer options for low-cost recreational leagues and school-sponsored sports. In this essay, she makes a case that this growing divide in youth sports compounds other systemic inequities in U.S. society.

Jill Filipovic, "The Crisis of Youth Sports," Substack, 5 April 2023.

 

The roots of mass incarceration: Jeffrey Bellin on the relationship between crime and incarceration rates in the U.S.

The U.S. has one of the highest incarceration rates in the world. Why is that? Jeffrey Bellin, a professor at William & Mary Law School, argues that the solutions to mass incarceration must address the policies that led to it, including policies that rely on prison as punishment for non-violent crimes.

Jeffrey Bellin, "Understanding Mass Incarceration in the US Is the First Step to Reducing a Swollen Prison Population," The Conversation, 2 March 2023.

 

Rules for the robot revolution: Ted Lieu on regulating artificial intelligence

Our daily lives increasingly rely on AI technology, from the facial recognition software that unlocks our smartphones to the smart algorithms that curate our search engine results pages. This “fourth industrial revolution,” as computer scientist and U.S. congressman Ted Lieu describes it, presents a challenge: how can people benefit from AI innovation and be protected from the harmful consequences of AI, from unwanted surveillance to systemic bias? In this op-ed also published in the New York Times, Lieu makes a case for why the U.S. needs a new federal agency to regulate AI.

Ted Lieu, "I’m a Congressman Who Codes. A.I. Freaks Me Out." Congressman Ted Lieu: Representing the 36th District of California, https://lieu.house.gov, 23 January 2023.