Our Feb 2023 event in Levinthal Hall at Stanford University entailed conversation with Sigal Ben-Porath, philosopher and author of Cancel Wars: How Universities Can Foster Free Speech, Promote Inclusion, and Renew Democracy. In Cancel Wars, Ben-Porath argues that the escalating struggles over “cancel culture,” “safe spaces,” and free speech on campus are a manifestation of broader democratic erosion in the United States. She sets out to demonstrate the role of the university in American society and, specifically, how it can model free speech in ways that promote democratic ideals.

Sigal Ben-Porath is a Professor of Literacy, Culture, and International Education at the University of Pennsylvania’s Graduate School of Education with affiliations in the departments of Political Science and Philosophy.

The McCoy Family Center for Ethics in Society is committed to bringing ethical reflection to bear on important social problems through research, teaching, and engagement. Visit the Center's website for more information: http://ethicsinsociety.stanford.edu