Ernst Nolte

[Paul Mackin]

On Fri, 23 Jun 2000, Spencer Thiel wrote:
> 
> Am I the only one freaked out about all this?  Write a paper with such and 

I think where you went wrong was in saying it was a violation of freedom 
of expression. It may however have been a violation of academic freedom,
which is a less serious sin. In America, for example, professors are
supposed to be able to advance any premise they want and still keep their
jobs. Even tenured professors can   get fired for falling asleep in class
but not for saying outlandish things.  I suspect Nolte's words were
anathema not so much for being unreasonable as for being perceived as
dangerous. Even the America Constitution doesn't allow you to shout fire
in a crowded theatre. This type problem arises in places where there have
been problems with antisemitism. In America nobody would bat much of an
eye.

I don't say they should not have fired Nolte but that such firings are
problematical academic-freedom-wise.

			P.