Description: Larry Summers on truth, debate, academia and George W. Bush.

Transcript:

We have an administration that takes pride in the fact that its policies are based on faith and conviction rather than reason and evidence. In a very different corner in large parts of the academic world – the parts of the academic world that would almost define themselves by the opposition to what the administration stands for – there’s a belief that truth is an arbitrary social construct, or a reflection . . . or a reflection of power relations rather than reality. And the great virtue of debate is respect for each other’s positions. And I have very much the opposite sense. The great virtue of debate is to understand it better, and you come closer to a better answer.

Recorded On: 6/13/07