Imagine being lowered in a basket from the walls of Damascus to meet a conqueror whose brutal power shaped history—but who paused to debate what makes societies thrive or collapse. That’s how our exploration of free speech begins—with a story that proves the power of ideas can challenge even the mightiest rulers. Today, we face our own pivotal moment in the fight to protect and understand open discourse.

Speak Freely, Think Critically: The Free Speech Balance Act
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Speak Freely, Think Critically: The Free Speech Balance Act



Instructors: Dr. Terrence Sejnowski
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What you'll learn
Understand the neuroscience behind why free speech feels challenging and how our brains process opposing viewpoints.
Develop practical techniques for engaging in productive dialogue across differences, especially on emotionally charged topics.
Recognize modern threats to free expression and explore innovative approaches to preserving meaningful discourse in the digital age.
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Reviewed on Dec 6, 2025
I love this course. Every day I was automatically drawn to watching the videos, and doing the tests. All the instructors explained clearly and instilled a sense of inspiration to learn this course.
Reviewed on Oct 3, 2025
An excellent course. It was well presented, user friendly. It has certainly given me some positive applications of listening to others' viewpoints without jumping to the negative. Thank you

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