Debating extremism

SIR – John Stuart Mill must be turning in his grave at the news (report, September 17) that the Prime Minister will expose some of Britain’s leading universities as havens for Islamist fanatics as he launches a new legal duty for colleges to stop extremists targeting students.

How often do we have to be reminded of Mill’s case for freedom of expression? First, the suppressed opinion may be true, as we human beings are not infallible.

Secondly, an opinion may contain a portion of the truth. Progress usually only substitutes one partial truth for another, the newer truth more suited to the needs of the times. Dissenting or heretical opinions often reflect partial truths not recognised in popular opinion, and are valuable for bringing attention to a “fragment of wisdom”.

Thirdly, if a true opinion is not debated, the meaning of the opinion itself may be lost.

Fourthly, and most importantly in the present circumstances, even if the popular opinion is true, if it is not debated it will become “dead dogma”. If truth is simply held as a prejudice, then people will not understand how to refute objections to it.

It is a vital part of a liberal education to learn to weigh arguments.

Doug Clark

Currie, Midlothian sir – You report that King’s College, London, was “among institutions [the] Prime Minister will name and shame for giving platforms to hate preachers who are determined to undermine British values”.

Universities create environments in which debate from all sides on issues of political, scientific, moral, ethical and religious significance is fostered and encouraged, and King’s is no exception.

Our academic departments and student societies regularly host speakers from a wide variety of backgrounds who express diverse opinions, which are their own and are always open to challenge and debate. Just last week, we held a public debate on what Britain and the world should do about the threat from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. Speakers included Prince Turki al-Faisal of Saudi Arabia, Sir John Sawers, the former chief of MI6, and Sir David Omand, the former director of GCHQ.

Indeed, through research, teaching and engagement on radicalisation and terrorism, King’s does more than perhaps any other British university to understand and respond to the threats posed – including threats to our open society.

Some months ago King’s established an internal steering group chaired by the Principal to oversee our compliance with the Government’s Prevent strategy, and we continue to ensure our processes comply with the guidance on external speakers published by the Home Office. Professor Frans Berkhout Executive Dean of Social Science & Public Policy

Professor Theo Farrell

Head of the Department of War Studies

King’s College, London