Thomas Dorsey (Balliol College): 'Are We Entitled to Our Controversial Opinions?'
Abstract: You’ve probably got lots of controversial opinions -- about abortion, about religion, about immigration. And you’ve got them despite many people disagreeing with you. Including lots of people who are at least as smart and informed as you. But aren’t these people at least as likely to be right as you? Isn’t the mere fact they disagree with you very good evidence you’re wrong? Many philosophers think so.
But then what are you to do with your controversial opinions? Give them all up? Surely not. In this talk, I argue we can save our opinions -- and many related things we care about -- from the doubtful winds of disagreement. However, I also argue some things can’t be saved. If the many philosophers are right, we have some changes to make.
