DE ARENA

On Tuesday 21 April, we will be taking an in-depth look at the tension between freedom of speech and the rise of cancel culture in our debate series De Arena.

Can you still say anything you like today, or has the line between a heated debate and a public lynching become blurred? Whilst some speak of much-needed social justice, others see stifling censorship that undermines our democracy. Are we judging too quickly without knowing all sides of the story? Do we assume too readily that whoever holds the most power is also the perpetrator? Do we like to be outraged when someone is pushed into a corner, but fail to recognise that we ourselves are sometimes the perpetrators, consciously or unconsciously? 

Moderator Lisbeth Imbo will start a conversation on this topic with:

• Walter Vansteenbrugge: lawyer, criminal defence barrister and author
• Ignaas Devisch: professor of medical philosophy and ethics (Ghent University), author and columnist