2008 Woodie Awards
Philosophy Corner: An inquiry into political correctness
Andrew Jacobson, '08
Issue date: 10/25/07 Section: Opinions
- Page 1 of 2 next >
I believe that making judgments in a philosophical manner is an extremely practical skill to have. It enables you to step away from the subjective constraints that normally affect decision making, and as a result allows you to analyze many different sides of an issue. The ability to understand your own presuppositions and biases is an aspect of philosophical inquiry that can be used in other practices and circumstances. It is precisely this method of thinking that I want to use as a way to examine a topic that many people don't even dare to address: Political Correctness. My objective here is not to define or satisfy your craving for controversy. Instead, I hope to simply touch the surface of something that has become a significant force in American society.
I want to look at political correctness in a completely politically incorrect manner. I think it's clear that we cannot even begin to understand the force of political correctness until we stop thinking in a politically correct manner. A person who acts politically correct understands that there are some things that are appropriate to say, and that there are things which have been deemed inappropriate. They are aware of the sensitivities of other cultures, and because of this they are careful not to offend. At heart this theory is a genuine and very effective means to promote cultural understanding and diversity. And in its rawest form it is a powerful tool for preventing culturally objectionable language from the public sector. Yet what I think we are beginning to see is that it is not the intentions of political correctness that are problematic, instead, it is its misuse and poor development.
One of the things that prevents people from addressing sensitive issues is their fear of saying something inappropriate. A reason for this might be the ambiguity of what political correctness defines as inappropriate. People are often unsure of the things they 'can' and 'can't' say. As a result, many take the option of not saying anything at all, or even worse, saying something that they don't believe in order to avoid embarrassment or satisfy the dominant opinions around them. The effectiveness of political correctness diminishes when its practices begin to suppress the very things that it had originally intended to overcome. People hesitate in examining the various different sides of an issue because they are afraid of delving into something offensive or inappropriate-i.e., the dark-side.
I want to look at political correctness in a completely politically incorrect manner. I think it's clear that we cannot even begin to understand the force of political correctness until we stop thinking in a politically correct manner. A person who acts politically correct understands that there are some things that are appropriate to say, and that there are things which have been deemed inappropriate. They are aware of the sensitivities of other cultures, and because of this they are careful not to offend. At heart this theory is a genuine and very effective means to promote cultural understanding and diversity. And in its rawest form it is a powerful tool for preventing culturally objectionable language from the public sector. Yet what I think we are beginning to see is that it is not the intentions of political correctness that are problematic, instead, it is its misuse and poor development.
One of the things that prevents people from addressing sensitive issues is their fear of saying something inappropriate. A reason for this might be the ambiguity of what political correctness defines as inappropriate. People are often unsure of the things they 'can' and 'can't' say. As a result, many take the option of not saying anything at all, or even worse, saying something that they don't believe in order to avoid embarrassment or satisfy the dominant opinions around them. The effectiveness of political correctness diminishes when its practices begin to suppress the very things that it had originally intended to overcome. People hesitate in examining the various different sides of an issue because they are afraid of delving into something offensive or inappropriate-i.e., the dark-side.
Be the first to comment on this story