Disagreement, Civility, and Intolerance – the 2018 E. Maynard Adams Symposium for the Humanities

The second annual Symposium in honor of the distinguished UNC philosopher Maynard Adams (1919-2003) will feature a keynote address by Jeremy Waldron, University Professor and Professor of Law at New York University. Professor Waldron is a leading international expert on issues such as torture, hate speech, theories of human equality and the concept of loyal opposition. How do we sustain democratic practices of civility and loyal opposition when people are completely convinced that they have the true position on political or social issues? Does intolerance follow from rational or irrational convictions about the correct answer to each political question?

Such questions grow out of our current cultural and political context, and they will provide a starting point for Professor Waldron’s presentation and for panel discussions at which faculty colleagues will respond to his themes and offer their own views on tolerance, civility, and democratic societies—issues that were all important also to Professor Adams.

TOPICS & SPEAKERS 

Friday Evening Keynote:

Disagreement, Civility, and Intolerance
Jeremy Waldron, University Professor and Professor of Law, New York University

Saturday Morning:

Panel One: Reflections and Dialogues in Response to Professor Waldron’s Views on Intolerance and Incivility in Public Life

• Max Owre, Lecturer in History and Executive Director, Carolina Public Humanities, Moderator
• Gerald J. Postema, Boshamer Professor of Philosophy and Professor of Law
• Theodore M. Shaw, Julius L. Chambers Distinguished Professor of Law
• Lauren Townsend, Maynard Adams Fellow for the Public Humanities, PhD Candidate in Philosophy

Panel Two: Reflections and Dialogues in Response to Professor Waldron’s Views on Intolerance and Incivility n Public Life

• Rachel Jones Schaevitz, Post-Doctoral Scholar for the Public Humanities, Carolina Public Humanities, Moderator
• Jill Adams, Emeritus Professor of Law, Southern Illinois University
• Deen Freelon, Associate Professor, School of Media and Journalism
• Andrew Reynolds, Professor of Political Science

Panel Three: Open Discussion with Professor Waldron, Faculty Panelists, and the Audience

TIME & LOCATION

The Symposium begins with Professor Waldron’s lecture in Wilson Library on Friday, April 13, 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. A public reception in the lobby of Wilson Library will follow the lecture.

The panel sessions will take place on Saturday, April 14, 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., at the Center for School Leadership Development.

Carolina Public Humanities thanks the Taylor Charitable Trust, the College of Arts and Sciences, the Philosophy Department, and the School of Law for generously supporting this year’s Maynard Adams Symposium.