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The University of Edinburgh is to remove the name of David Hume from one of its campus buildings, citing concerns that the 18th century philosopher’s views on race cause “distress” to modern day students.
Cue white people getting angry about a tower they never cared or had a second thought about to begin with.
Chris Rennie
I haven’t read Hume’s comments on race (they may well be shocking in line with many of his contemporaries) but (as a philosopher) he surely marked a watershed in western thought and was a key figure in the “Edinburgh Enlightenment”. Is my old university becoming too politically correct?
Peter Lewis
I had lectures there and it will always be the David Hume Tower to me.
Ron Inwood
I wonder how the decisions, and attitudes that we make and have today will be judged in 200 years’ time, or even 20 years’ time? Will they possibly say, why didn’t they concentrate more on the climate change emergency instead of the attitudes of people who lived 200 years before they were born ?
Anna Mosspaul
The university can focus on more than one thing at once. Just because they want to make decisions to represent a more inclusive society, it doesn’t mean that they can’t take steps to address climate change in their own way.
Fraser Hume
Absolutely disgraceful decision. Useless gesturing that makes absolutely no difference to real-life racism
Abim Bola
Calling for Hume’s removal reveals a lack of understanding what Hume said. Yes, he was bigoted. Everyone was. But Hume would be a leading voice in extolling anti-racism today.
Cynthia Almy Savage
If they can’t examine history without suffering distress they are not suited to a university education. Although given the state of what passes as such these days . . .
David John Hamilton
Great decision, but I would have renamed it Blot on the Landscape No 1 and the Appleton Tower, Blot on the Landscape No 2.
Brian Crosland
White people will literally do anything except address discrimination in the court system, police, financial system and housing which Black Lives Matter is actually calling for. This is white wellmeaning middle-class feelgood-about-yourself noise. It’s fluff posing as action.
Mark Milton
Ironic to read the comments decrying the “rewriting of history” given that the Hume Tower was itself built in the 1960s by demolishing most of a fine Georgian square dating back 200 years, which had been the residence of many important historical figures.
John Orr
Great news! Never liked David Hume, a key figure in the “Scottish Enlightenment”, who, as it turns out, wasn’t very “Enlightened” after all. He was a rabid anti-jacobite and hater of Catholics. So, a unionist and sectarian bigot too! Of course, he was celebrated by the “British” Establishment as an early example of their notion of their “God-given” superiority.
Alan Stewart It is sheer arrogance to judge historical figures by today’s moral and cultural standards. If we apply this to all of our history then we would be left with nothing. But I suppose that’s what the radicals want.
Robin Diangelo Can we not all agree that slavery was an abomination without having to rename absolutely every building and street, and tear down every statue?
Grace Davidson I would imagine that Hume would be overjoyed to hear that this architectural monstrosity will not be associated with him any more. At least he is remembered nearly 300 years after his death, how many of these 2,000 irrelevances will be able to claim that?
Nick Maycock
A desperate attempt by the university to appear woke, relevant, down wid da kids and hip. Clearly they never understood the likes of their own Prof Devine that it is wrong to judge history by today’s standards.
David Macadam
History happened, we cannot change it. However, we can all learn from it. If we try to sweep it under the carpet it will not go away.
Rhona Park
Leave the past where it belongs. You can’t change it or delete it, just learn from it.
Sandra Hoy
Cancel culture rocks! It upsets the right-wingers no end, keep it up!
Alan Mcphersone
Wouldn’t it be better to tear the building down? And who was this Appleton guy? I’m sure they can find something dodgy about his past as well.
Lawrence Marshall