The Volokh Conspiracy
Mostly law professors | Sometimes contrarian | Often libertarian | Always independent
Would "Affirmative Action" for Conservatives in Academia "Backfire"?
Universities should be wary of adopting practices or policies that "discourage curiosity and reward narrowness of thought."
Should universities increase (initiate?) efforts to enhance viewpoint or ideological diversity among faculty? Some think so. Others are not so sure. And would such efforts necessarily require taking affirmative steps to increase the likelihood of hiring conservatives, such as creating special centers or faculty lines, or would it be enough to counteract bias against non-progressive views in the hiring process? On this there is active debate.
The New York Times published an op-ed this week on the subject by University of Pennsylvania philosophy professor Jennifer Morton, "Why Hiring Professors With Conservative Views Could Backfire on Conservatives." In the op-ed Professor Morton writes:
Certainly, there is not enough engagement with conservative ideas on college campuses. Schools can and should do more to ensure that students encounter a greater range of political perspectives in syllabuses and among speakers invited to give talks.
But a policy of hiring professors and admitting students because they have conservative views would actually endanger the open-minded intellectual environment that proponents of viewpoint diversity say they want. By creating incentives for professors and students to have and maintain certain political positions, such a policy would discourage curiosity and reward narrowness of thought.
Perhaps few would argue that universities should adopt policies or practices that "discourage curiosity and reward narrowness of thought." But if that is really the concern, it seems that potential, as-yet-unimplemented policies designed to increase viewpoint diversity would hardly top the list of things to be worried about.
