1 December 2016

The Philosophy of the Selfish

When everyone else is wrong

by Tim Marshall

Is there a connection between the introduction of “safe spaces” on university campuses, the riots in US cities by those who oppose Donald Trump and the legal action taken by Gina Miller and others in the High Court in London, following the referendum result on the UK’s membership of the EU?

There are several aspects of the “safe spaces” phenomenon. One is the prohibition preventing guest speakers from addressing meetings, if the speaker may express views with which the student leadership disagrees. Another is the banning of certain newspapers whose views or policies are considered to be distasteful.

In the US, the rioters made clear that they disagreed with the election of Donald Trump and showed their disapproval, in extreme ways, with the views of those who had voted for him.

In the UK, press reports about the legal action taken by Gina Miller have shown that she had voted to stay in the EU and is appalled by the result of the referendum. She is expressing her refusal to accept the result by way of action through the Courts.

Perhaps the connection, if there is one, is that there is a growing sentiment that people who disagree with the views of others feel that they are entitled to take any steps to block those views, in an attempt to ensure that only their own views prevail.

John Major recently addressed a meeting at which EU matters were debated and referred to the “tyranny of the majority.” As commentators and correspondents to “The Times” pointed out, he made no mention of the “tyranny of the minority”.

Is there a new and developing social/political philosophy at work? The philosophy of the selfish?

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