Combating Censorship in the U.K., Honoring Sir Roger Scruton’s Legacy of Beauty
If you haven’t heard yet, Prime Minister Liz Truss resigned this morning after only six weeks in office. Her resignation reminds us that learning to navigate controversy, debate, and policy differences is an inevitable component of living in a free society.
The timing is fascinating. Today also marks the official launch of Common Sense Society–United Kingdom (CSS–UK) which will champion liberty, prosperity, and beauty in the U.K. through public events, private reading groups, musical performances, guest lectures, and other programs.
CSS–UK director Emma Webb is already heavily engaged in promoting these principles, speaking only last week at the annual Battle of Ideas. This annual festival gathers people from varied political backgrounds for free and honest debate on the most pressing challenges our communities face today, particularly the importance of free expression. One of her panels asked, "Is cancel culture killing the arts?"
The late Sir Roger Scruton had a lot to say on beauty and censorship, and many attempted to discredit him because of his principled views. He warned: “I think we are losing beauty, and with that we are in danger of losing the meaning of life.”
Is the censorship of beauty or free expression in the arts really a pressing issue today? Is beauty worth defending if it offends people? Is there such a thing as “bad” art? What are the consequences of such censorship? Let us know your thoughts in the comments, or tag us in a story on Instagram.
I was fascinated by some of the questions that came up during the panel discussions and informal chats at our stall during the Battle of Ideas festival, some of which were sparked by our tote bags…
I’m curious to know what you think: should we expect artists to create beautiful work and live morally upright lives? Is there a level of moral accountability that supersedes artists’ free expression? If so, is it determined by current political orthodoxies? CSS–UK director Emma Webb shared the stage with founding Mumford and Sons band member Winston Marshall who is a testament to censorship’s real life consequences.
But should we tolerate “bad” art? We have a deep human need for beauty, a need which CSS founding advisor and renowned philosopher of aesthetics Sir Roger Scruton repeatedly and eloquently defended. If you haven’t watched his documentary, “Why Beauty Matters,” consider setting aside an hour this weekend, then hop on Instagram and tag us with your questions (or your answers to a few of my own below).
Do ugliness and utilitarianism assault beauty today? What do you think about his assessment of modern art and architecture? Is art transcendent? Can it redeem what is painful in the world through beauty and order?
Defending free expression, academic integrity, the institutions that uphold civil society—even defending beauty itself—often comes at a cost. It can take real courage to stand up to woke-ism, censorship, or any other form of mob consensus.
How can we defend and advance free expression and beauty in our communities? One option is to promote an individual who is advocating for beauty amidst censorship by nominating them for The Sir Roger Scruton Prize. Or you might decide to join any one of the CSS national branches for salon meetings, excursions, debates, fellowship programs, and cultural events. If you live in the United Kingdom, consider joining CSS–UK at one of the upcoming Sir Roger Scruton Memorial Lectures, and stay tuned for opportunities to promote liberty, prosperity, and beauty in the United Kingdom alongside us. These ideas are worth defending.