Why Texas A&M Banned Plato: The Growing Crisis of Academic Freedom

The man who shaped Western thought for 2,400 years is no longer welcome in some modern classrooms. According to reports from Daily Nous and Boing Boing, Texas A&M University has instructed a professor to remove Plato from the curriculum of a 'Contemporary Moral Problems' course.

The Texas A&M Plato Censorship Controversy

The decision to deem Plato 'unnecessary' for a morality course has sparked a firestorm in academic circles. Critics argue that teaching moral problems without the philosopher who essentially defined the field's parameters is historically incoherent. The university's directive suggests that the danger lies not in the ancient philosophy itself, but in the critical thinking and questioning that occur when students engage with his texts.

Intellectual Guardrails in Higher Education

This move is seen by many as a 'politically revealing' act, indicating a shift toward curated thought in public institutions. By restricting access to foundational texts, universities may be attempting to create intellectual guardrails that prevent students from exploring perspectives that challenge current institutional or political norms. The Daily Nous emphasized that this determination suggests a fundamental fear of what happens when people read and interpret classic works independently.