University of London students demand white philosophers be removed

University of London students are demanding that thinkers such as Plato, Aristotle, Voltaire, and Immanuel Kant be banned from the philosophy syllabus... because they are white.

A statement from the students’ union added that banning white philosophers should be part of a wider campaign to “decolonize” the university

The vice-chancellor of Buckingham University, Sir Anthony Seldon, told The Daily Mail that it looks like “a real danger” of “political correctness getting out of control.”

Pro-Director (Learning and Teaching) Dr. Deborah Johnston sees the students’ initiative to question the syllabus as positive

Source
Students in the University of London are demanding that white philosophers be removed from the university syllabus and replaced with philosophers from Africa and Asia instead. Apparently, learning about white philosophers promotes colonization and colonialism.
It's ok though, the Pro-Director of Learning and Teaching at the university, Dr. Deborah Johnston - wait, never mind, she thinks it's a good idea.

idiots is all I can say about the sjw's they need to goto their safe space and stay ther :/

a reply to: trollz

Could we see some other confirmation other than RT news. Most people will believe their BS without question....I won't!

a reply to: trollz
I've seen that story from another source, where it was more clear that the students were from the "School of Oriental and African Studies", rather than London University as a whole.
That makes it easier to understand the motivation, in terms of modern attitudes. (It is still very short-sighted, even so)

Which countries and cultures will they be pulling from again? Africa and Asia? The two places with the most 3rd world and stone age customs abound.

All those students along with all the other people that came to the UK from countries that were colonised can join the queue to return to the country of their origin. There isn't a queue! really? how curious.

So these "students" want to remove a Grecian, a Frenchman, and a German from the syllabus to "decolonize" an English university's curriculum? Seems like they should be doubling up on the study of reason and logic instead.

Well, if they want to get white philosophers banned, then maybe they should start interviewing some of the outback natives of OZ to find good philosophers. Remember the show " The gods must be crazy" That would be a good place to look for a philosopher. en.wikipedia.org...

a reply to: trollz

I love all this insanity...let's get rid of all white related educational material. Let's get rid of all white related science too..that should really advance the education system...priceless

University of London students are demanding that thinkers such as Plato, Aristotle, Voltaire, and Immanuel Kant be banned from the philosophy syllabus... because they are white.

And in doing so, will banish the many secrets of humanity that people with similar mindsets will never have the joy of learning. So much esoteric knowledge can be attributed to Plato and those before him (his work being some of the most well documented), and Aristotle (that snake in the grass), is basically who we have to "thank" for our modern political and economic constructs. This is by far the most ignorant BS that I have had the displeasure of hearing so far in 2017.

a reply to: trollz

Opinions within the university are also divided, however. The head of SOAS’s Religions and Philosophies department, Erica Hunter, was surprised by the students’ statement, calling it “rather ridiculous.”

Your own source.

Here is the heart of the matter, from the original source:

It comes after education leaders warned that universities will be forced to pander to the demands of “snowflake” students, however unreasonable they might be.

Under proposed reforms to higher education, the Government wants to place student satisfaction at the heart of a new ranking system, but critics fear it could undermine academic integrity.

www.telegraph.co.uk...

In other words, this is political theater. The exaggerated demand will force the government to rethink making "student satisfaction" important in its ranking system. Always getting top marks without doing any work would probably satisfy students, but it would not be good for their education.

How about they enroll in schools in Africa and Asia then?

a reply to: olaru12


Here is another link.

schoolsimprovement.net...

Students can do stupid things. The key is that the students agreed that if they had to be taught the works of white philosophers their work should be viewed from a "Critical standpoint". Now when I was at university in London the works of all academics were studied from a critical standpoint to consider flaws and errors. This additional piece of information (student comment) gives a slightly different take to the initial hysteria (See above).

Dear god! They don't want them removed completely, they have the crazy weird idea that they should study philosophers from the area of the world they are studying! Why don't people read before they start all this racist bull#.

a reply to: Urantia1111
Ate you suggesting European universities cant study anything outside of Europe? We have American Studies courses in the UK are you saying all those students have to go to the US?

originally posted by: Orwells Ghost
So these "students" want to remove a Grecian, a Frenchman, and a German from the syllabus to "decolonize" an English university's curriculum? Seems like they should be doubling up on the study of reason and logic instead.

Apparently you didn't read Executive SJW order #11b: "All white people and white cultures are the same. Also, white people have no culture. No culture or race is allowed to be stereotyped or disparaged, with the exception of white cultures or races. Henceforth, disagreeing with this order shall be tantamount to racism." -SJWs

The school is oriental and african studies. Why shouldn't they study philosphers from those regions? Thusly, I don't see the trouble with requesting that. Maybe I am assuming too much. My assumption is a school focused on oriental and african studies will not have any classes relating to european philosphers. Similarly, a philosopher living in asia who came there as a colonist should also have lesser priority than a non-colonist. And of course if a 'white' scholar is studied, it should be viewed through the prism of that era and place. For example, to show differneces between philosophers of those regions.

a reply to: trollz

Apparently they don't understand Plato or anything else about philosophy if they think skin color has anything to do with philosophy.

It would be better to simply include non white philosophers rather than eliminate the works of some of histories greatest philosophers.

The non clickbait title should read " The students at the School of Oriental and African Studies, think the philosophers they study should be African and Asian. OMG the shock, the horror!

The school leadership should have just said in reply to the banning, "We Kant".

hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

They should just dine on a Plato sour grapes!