Grievance Studies vs. the Scientific Method

The Grievance Studies Project, a yearlong exercise in revealing the corrupt and corruptible nature of many of academia’s newest disciplines, has prompted discussion far and wide. This is exactly what needs to happen.

Recently I had the following interchange on twitter. James Lindsay is one of the three creators, directors, and producers of the Project (Peter Boghossian and Helen Pluckrose being the other two). James had recently argued that the Grievance Studies people were back on their heels, and that change was imminent. I’m not so sure.

I took the question from Mr. Barker, whom I do not know, in the spirit intended. Here is my reply.

Word choice is important, and it sways people, so you are right to wonder — is it necessary to use language that implies competition?

In this case, it is. There is real conflict here.

It is not the scientists and other practitioners of Enlightenment methods and values who created the conflict, however. Nor are we “defending our privilege” by resisting the forces that are coming at us.