Academic freedom and the ethical value of thinking

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to analyse the changes in the conditions of academic freedom that occurred over the last several decades and to point out the possible ramifications of those changes. Firstly, the author begins by depicting the origins and the meaning of the neohumanistic modern idea of academic freedom and with outlining some of its paradoxes and limitations. Secondly, the classical neohumanistic concept of academic freedom is juxtaposed with new premises of economic neoliberalism, as diagnosed by Michel Foucault. Also the consequences of economic legitimisation of political order for academic freedom are drawn. Ultimately, the author concentrates on the results of economic limitations of freedom for free thinking and its relationship with human moral judgements.