Kindly Inquisitors: The New Attacks on Free Thought, Newly Expanded Edition

Kindly Inquisitors: The New Attacks on Free Thought, Newly Expanded Edition

Author: Cato Institute October 16, 2013 Duration: 1:27:18
In 1993, when Jonathan Rauch's landmark book Kindly Inquisitors was first published, the idea that minorities need special protection from discriminatory or demeaning speech was innovative. Today, it's standard operating procedure--routinely enforced by universities, employers, foreign governments, and even international treaties. In a newly expanded electronic edition of his book, Rauch, an openly gay advocate of same-sex marriage and of gay equality generally, argues that suppressing hateful speech does minorities more harm than good, and that the gay civil rights movement of the past two decades dramatically illustrates the point. Join us as the author explains why gays and other minorities are better off if government protects bigoted speech than if government protects them from it.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.


Step inside the Cato Institute's renowned Washington, D.C. events without leaving your desk. The Cato Event Podcast brings the lecture hall and briefing room directly to you, featuring unfiltered audio from live policy forums, author discussions, and Capitol Hill briefings. Each episode captures the substance of these gatherings, where scholars, policymakers, and leading thinkers engage in detailed conversations about liberty, governance, and current affairs. You'll hear substantive debates and thoughtful commentary that cut through the noise of daily headlines, offering deeper analysis on the issues shaping legislation and public discourse. This isn't a produced studio show; it's a front-row seat to the kind of candid exchanges that happen when experts gather to challenge conventional wisdom. The Cato Institute, through this podcast, provides a direct conduit to these discussions, emphasizing a perspective rooted in individual freedom, limited government, and free markets. Tune in for a raw, intellectual experience that goes beyond soundbites, perfect for anyone who wants to understand the foundational ideas behind today's political news.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 102

Cato Event Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Federalism and Financial Regulation [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:07:37
Financial markets are some of the most heavily regulated markets in the United States. Firms and individuals that wish to engage in financial services–related businesses face complex regulatory regimes that are overseen…
Back to School: A Conversation on the State of Education [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:32
Join Cato education scholars Neal McCluskey, Colleen Hroncich, and Andrew Gillen for an online panel discussion on the current state of American education as students return to classrooms nationwide. Moderated by USA Tod…
Competencies in Civil Discourse: Episode 8 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:04
Our guest is Ildi Tillmann, a Hungary-born, New York–based photographer, author, and educator whose work spans art, documentary, narrative journalism, and commissioned photography, placing human stories in a global conte…
Ranked Choice, Election Reform, and the New York City Vote [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:16:35
The dramatic outcome of the New York City mayoral primary, in which Zohran Mamdani outpaced former governor Andrew Cuomo and then clinched the win with second-choice votes from other candidates, has drawn attention to th…
Misinformation: What Is It and What Should We Do About It? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:43
Misinformation is a widespread and serious concern within our society today. Nearly every issue we face involves claims of misinformation, as well as disinformation and otherwise misleading content. But despite being fre…
The Effects of Tariffs [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:37
Join us at the Cato Institute for a conversation on the complex and uncertain US tariff situation and the policies’ effects, especially for the American wine and spirits industries.In Kentucky, bourbon has long been a so…
Libertarianism vs. Conservatism Intern Debate [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:29:22
Libertarians and conservatives often share values like individual liberty and limited government, but their approaches to key policy issues can differ sharply. From trade policy to immigration, these differences reveal d…