In my opinion, the first step people take to eliminate a freedom is to tie it to some sort of responsibility. But freedoms are not commodities you have to pay for. Otherwise they wouldn't be freedoms. Anyhow. In this article, we read that academic freedom isn't actually a right, "but rather a right or a privilege bestowed by an institution of higher learning." It is better thought, it is argued, as an ethical right, which brings with it ethical obligations. "There is an ethical responsibility by professors to provide space for challenging discussions. This necessarily includes not perpetrating old structures that were built on casting out marginalized groups," argues Karine Coen-Sanchez. "Professors have a responsibility not to humiliate racialized students or use racist or discriminatory language." All good, but we need better clarity on what is a limit to as freedom (eg., free speech does not include hate speech) and what is a responsibility instead of a freedom (eg. not perpetrating old structures).
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