The university as a place of freedom, truth, and cordiality
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.26439/en.lineas.generales2026.n015.9059Keywords:
university, academic freedom, truth, pluralism, cordialityAbstract
This article argues that universities can reclaim their capacity to drive social change by reaffirming freedom, truth, and cordiality as inseparable principles of academic life. In response to the declining cultural relevance and growing commercialization of higher education, it emphasizes the formative vocation of university teaching and the value of thoughtful disagreement. Academic freedom requires pluralism and openness to differing perspectives without abandoning the possibility of distinguishing better interpretations from weaker ones through rational dialogue and experience. The pursuit of truth, in turn, remains the driving force behind research and the advancement of knowledge. Cordiality is expressed through attentive listening, collaboration, and a genuine commitment to the growth of both students and faculty. The article concludes that universities must cultivate a “craft of dialogue” that brings together free inquiry, the shared pursuit of truth, and a culture of respectful engagement.
Downloads
References
Arregui, J. V. (2004). La pluralidad de la razón. Síntesis.
Bain, K. (2006). Lo que hacen los mejores profesores universitarios (Ó. Barberá, Trad.). Universidad de Valencia.
Campoamor, R. de. (1972). Obras poéticas completas. Aguilar.
De Juana, A. (2017). Papa Francisco arremete contra universidades que imponen ideología y no enseñan a dialogar. ACI Prensa. https://www.aciprensa.com/noticias/63513/papa-francisco-arremete-contra-universidades-que-imponen-ideologia-y-no-ensenan-a-dialogar
Lorda, J. L. (2016). La vida intelectual en la universidad. Fundamentos, experiencias y libros. Universidad de Navarra.
National Conservatism. (2021, 10 de noviembre). J.D. Vance | The Universities are the Enemy | National Conservatism Conference II [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0FR65Cifnhw
Newman, J. H. (2013). The idea of a university. University of Notre Dame Press.
Nubiola, J. (2018, 8 de febrero). ¿Cómo debe ser un académico? Nueva Revista de Política, Cultura y Arte. https://www.nuevarevista.net/como-debe-ser-un-academico/
Nubiola, J. (2018, 9 de junio). Libertad, verdad, cordialidad: El diálogo como clave de la vida universitaria. Almudi.org. https://www.almudi.org/articulos/12687-libertad-verdad-cordialidad-el-dialogo-como-clave-de-la-vida-universitaria
Peirce, C. S. (1931-1958). Collected papers of Charles Sanders Peirce (C. Hartshorne, P. Weiss & A. W. Burks, Eds.). Harvard University Press.
Rowling, J. K. (2018). Vivir bien la vida. Salamandra.
Stephens, B. (2017, 24 de septiembre). The dying art of disagreement. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/24/opinion/dying-art-of-disagreement.html
