Uploaded August 2021 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Brookings Senior Fellow Jonathan Rauch discusses topics from his book, "The Constitution of Knowledge: A Defense of Truth" with IHS President and CEO Emily Chamlee-Wright. They discuss the importance of the scientific method, free speech, debate, open inquiry, and persuasion in the process of gaining knowledge and seeking truth, and why these things are essential to a free and flourishing society. They discuss attacks on free speech, academic freedom, civil discourse, and truth-seeking from both the left and the right of the political spectrum, and concerns about increasing polarization, and concerns about the future of liberalism and liberal democracy. They explore the relationship of his latest book to an earlier book he wrote 20 years ago, "Kindly Inquisitors: The New Attacks on Free Thought."
At the end of their conversation, Rauch answers questions submitted by the audience. Q&A was moderated by Dr. Bradley Jackson, Senior Program Officer at IHS.
This conversation took place via livestream with an online audience on July 9, 2021. IHS thanks the Hewlett Foundation for sponsoring the event.
Jonathan Rauch is a senior fellow in the Governance Studies program at the Brookings Institution, and the author of eight books and many articles on public policy, culture, and government. He is a contributing writer of The Atlantic and recipient of the 2005 National Magazine Award, the magazine industry’s equivalent of the Pulitzer Prize.
In 2020 Rauch was named a Distinguished Fellow for the Study of Liberalism and a Free Society at the Institute for Humane Studies.
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Brookings Senior Fellow Jonathan Rauch discusses topics from his book, "The Constitution of Knowledge: A Defense of Truth" with IHS President and CEO Emily Chamlee-Wright. They discuss the importance of the scientific method, free speech, debate, open inquiry, and persuasion in the process of gaining knowledge and seeking truth, and why these things are essential to a free and flourishing society. They discuss attacks on free speech, academic freedom, civil discourse, and truth-seeking from both the left and the right of the political spectrum, and concerns about increasing polarization, and concerns about the future of liberalism and liberal democracy. They explore the relationship of his latest book to an earlier book he wrote 20 years ago, "Kindly Inquisitors: The New Attacks on Free Thought."
At the end of their conversation, Rauch answers questions submitted by the audience. Q&A was moderated by Dr. Bradley Jackson, Senior Program Officer at IHS.
This conversation took place via livestream with an online audience on July 9, 2021. IHS thanks the Hewlett Foundation for sponsoring the event.
Jonathan Rauch is a senior fellow in the Governance Studies program at the Brookings Institution, and the author of eight books and many articles on public policy, culture, and government. He is a contributing writer of The Atlantic and recipient of the 2005 National Magazine Award, the magazine industry’s equivalent of the Pulitzer Prize.
In 2020 Rauch was named a Distinguished Fellow for the Study of Liberalism and a Free Society at the Institute for Humane Studies.
Subscribe to our channel to see upcoming videos: youtube.com/c/TheIHSorg?sub_confirmation=1
About Us: theihs.org/who-we-are
Twitter: twitter.com/theihs?lang=en
Facebook: facebook.com/InstituteforHumaneStudies
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/instituteforhumanestudies
Instagram: instagram.com/theihs
