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.

 

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.

 

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

 

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.

 

“A dire shortage of affordable housing”: Jerusalem Demsas on the structural causes of homelessness

Every day, over half a million Americans are homeless. What has led to this crisis? In this essay, writer Jerusalem Demsas critiques the way homelessness is often framed as an individual’s “personal failure,” with little attempt to recognize or rectify its underlying root causes. She argues that the lack of affordable housing is at the center of the homelessness problem in many U.S. cities and communities.

Jerusalem Demsas, "The Obvious Answer to Homelessness," Atlantic, 12 December 2022

 

A family by choice: Tyler Bradway and Elizabeth Freeman on queer kinship and broadening the definition of a family

There is no one-size-fits-all structure for the American family. Research shows more people are living in multigenerational households and in other arrangements that look different from the “traditional” nuclear family, a concept some argue has always been a myth. In this essay, Tyler Bradway and Elizabeth Freeman argue that what constitutes a family isn’t solely a private affair. Rather, the definition of a family has political and economic consequences, with some families protected and others challenged. Bradway and Freeman explain the concept of “queer kinship,” describing a range of relationships in which people love and care for each other, and advocate for “expansive understandings of the family.”

Tyler Bradway and Elizabeth Freeman, "What Constitutes a Family? Don’t Ask Conservatives" The Nation, 30 August 2022

 

The limits of free speech: Jacob Mchangama on censorship, extremism, and hate speech

There’s no question that social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube can rapidly amplify and circulate hate speech and extremist content. Solutions to this problem are murky, as seen in debates over topics such as cancel culture, free speech, and censorship. In this essay, Jacob Mchangama, a Danish writer and lawyer, argues that an expansive definition of free expression is essential for vibrant democracies. He warns against having too many restrictions on the kinds of speech posted and circulated online.

Jacob Mchangama, "Banning Hate Speech Won’t End Extremist Violence," Persuasion, 6 June 2022