Mike Winther shares his perspective on what 'cancel culture' is and why we should care. He talks about how 'cancel culture' is usually an attack on someone's reputation or employment based on ideology. It can also be an attempt of intimidation to get people to modify their attitudes.
It can also be an attempt to remove ideas or alternative viewpoints. It can also remove financial resources, such as boycotting businesses or getting employees fired. He explores this topic, and the information is as relevant today as when this lecture was first given.
You'll Learn:
[01:19] Cancel culture is usually defined as an attack on someone's reputation or their employment based on ideology. It's also an attempt of intimidation to get people to modify their attitudes.
[02:47] It can also be an attempt to remove financial resources from businesses or employees.
[03:17] There is significant overlap between some of the recent protests and 'cancel culture'.
[03:36] Mike shares some examples of 'cancel culture' in action.
[05:07] Censoring can also be a result of 'cancel culture' especially on social media.
[05:41] Changing thinking and actions as part of the battle for hearts and minds.
[06:15] Methods can be good and bad. For instance, education can be good unless it's not accurate. Intimidation and property destruction are methods that can result in a boomerang effect.
[07:40] The public can boycott and use market forces to create a change.
[08:25] Mike is going to share four different contrasts. 1. Government versus private. This can determine whether it's morally acceptable or unacceptable. 2. Reason versus emotion. Is it based on reason or emotion? 3. Is it a good worldview versus a bad worldview? 4. We need to evaluate the heart. Is there a good heart or an evil heart?
[09:26] Government versus private. Governments shouldn't be promoters of philosophy or policy. We don't want the government influencing the people. We want the people to influence the government.
[14:26] Is it okay for private parties to influence public opinion? Yes.
[14:45] The first amendment is designed to limit government action not private action.
[18:08] Many monopolies received government help in the early days.
[18:32] Our regulatory environment also reduces competition.
[19:55] Our educational system can be another issue when censoring.
[23:12] Reason versus emotion. So much of the 'cancel culture' is based on emotional feeling.
[27:06] A good worldview versus a bad worldview.
[28:10] The good heart versus the bad heart. Too much of 'cancel culture' is aimed at people. We shouldn't attack the people, we should attack the idea. A lot of cancel culture is aimed at the person who has the idea.
[29:46] Mike talks about the large number of monuments that have been removed.
[34:00] Should we engage? As long as we do it correctly and pursue a good goal.
