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.
In "Speak Freely, Think Critically," you'll uncover:
◦ The shocking ways AI and social media are reshaping how we think and communicate
◦ Powerful techniques used by master negotiators to bridge seemingly impossible divides
◦ Why defending unpopular speech is crucial in our digital age
◦ Groundbreaking strategies for fostering understanding across deep divides
◦ The surprising neuroscience behind why even the smartest people resist opposing views
Whether you're a business leader building stronger teams, an educator reaching diverse students, or someone navigating today's social dynamics, this course will transform how you engage with different perspectives. You’ll learn not just to manage challenging conversations, but to thrive in them.
The skills of engaging across differences have never been more urgent. Don’t just learn about free speech—master it. Your journey to meaningful, effective dialogue begins here.
Great ideas only matter if people can share them. This module dives into the drama of how ideas spread or get squashed - from a basket lowered down Damascus' walls to Putin's crackdown on satire. You'll discover the clever ways narcissistic leaders suppress questioning while claiming to welcome it, see how your brain processes challenges to your beliefs, and explore why social media can make us both smarter and dumber at the same time. Through stories that bring neuroscience to life, you'll learn why open dialogue drives innovation and problem-solving, while its absence leads to stagnation. Whether you lead a team, want to spot manipulation tactics, or just care about keeping good ideas alive, this module reveals the hidden forces shaping our conversations and gives you practical tools for our digital age.
Inclus
10 vidéos1 lecture2 devoirs
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10 vidéos•Total 147 minutes
1-1: Introduction to Speak Freely, Think Critically•8 minutes
1-2: The Historic Tug-of-War Between Unity and Dissent•6 minutes
1-3: Modern Voices, Timeless Struggles: The Search for Common Ground•8 minutes
1-4: Free Speech Foundations and Global Perspectives•12 minutes
1-5: The Narcissistic Bind: When Human Nature Battles Free Speech•11 minutes
1-6: Institutional Barriers: How Personality Shapes Free Speech•7 minutes
1-7: Free Speech in the Digital Age•9 minutes
1-8 Optional: Ayaan Hirsi Ali Interview•19 minutes
1-9 Optional: Konstantin Kisin Interview•28 minutes
1-10 Optional: Jacob Mchangama Interview•40 minutes
1 lecture•Total 10 minutes
Optional further readings and references•10 minutes
2 devoirs•Total 60 minutes
Module 1 Preliminary Practice Quiz: Wrong Answers Have Rights Too•30 minutes
Module 1 Quiz: Testing Your Balance on Free Speech's Tightrope•30 minutes
Your Brain and Free Speech: Understanding Leads to Mastery
Module 2•3 heures à terminer
Détails du module
Why do some ideas make us bristle before we even hear them out? In this module, we dive into the fascinating science of how your brain handles challenging ideas. You'll discover why your automatic reactions can sometimes hijack rational thinking, how experiences shape the neural pathways that guide your responses, and what this all means for having better conversations across differences. From ancient Damascus to modern neuroscience labs, we explore how understanding your brain's inner workings can help you master difficult discussions. Plus, you'll get hands-on practice with "Sway" - an innovative AI tool for strengthening your dialogue muscles. Perfect for anyone who's ever wondered why smart people can disagree so strongly, or who wants to have more productive conversations about tough topics. No neuroscience background required - just bring your curiosity about how minds (including your own) really work!
Inclus
7 vidéos1 lecture2 devoirs1 sujet de discussion
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7 vidéos•Total 75 minutes
2-1: The Basal Ganglia and Its Role in Free Speech•11 minutes
2-2: How Experiences Train the Basal Ganglia•8 minutes
2-3: Barriers to Belief: Visualizing Our Mental Fortresses•6 minutes
2-4: The Information in Misinformation•6 minutes
2-5: The Art of Self-Command •7 minutes
2-6 Introduction to “Sway”•3 minutes
2-7 Optional: Andrew Doyle•34 minutes
1 lecture•Total 10 minutes
Optional further readings and references•10 minutes
2 devoirs•Total 60 minutes
Module 2 Preliminary Practice Quiz: Your Brain's Automatic Bouncer•30 minutes
Module 2 Quiz: Debugging Your Brain's Spam Filter•30 minutes
1 sujet de discussion•Total 10 minutes
Link to Sway discussions•10 minutes
Recognizing Modern Threats: Preserving Free Speech Today
Module 3•4 heures à terminer
Détails du module
Want to be part of keeping meaningful dialogue alive in our digital age? This final module brings together everything we've learned about brains, bias, and human behavior to tackle today's toughest free speech challenges. You'll see how real innovators are turning age-old problems into new solutions - like using disagreement itself to make online discussions better. Through concrete examples and cutting-edge tools, you'll discover what works (and what doesn't) in fostering open dialogue, both online and off. Plus, you'll get hands-on practice with approaches you can use right away. Whether you lead a team, engage in public debates, or just want better discussions with friends and family, this module gives you practical ways to help build a world where different voices don't just survive - they help us all think better.
Inclus
11 vidéos1 lecture2 devoirs
Afficher les informations sur le contenu du module
11 vidéos•Total 153 minutes
3-1: Harmful Help: How Good Intentions Can Strangle Free Speech•6 minutes
3-2: The Art of Reinterpretation•4 minutes
3-3: How to Eliminate Speech Without Leaving Fingerprints •7 minutes
3-4: When "Misinformation" Becomes a Shield for Bias•7 minutes
3-5: Digital Literacy and AI in Free Speech•5 minutes
3-6: “Pure Informational Theory of Free Speech” Comes to Life in “Community Notes”•7 minutes
3-7: Teaching Free Speech: Building the Muscles of Open Dialogue•6 minutes
3-8: Wrap Up•5 minutes
3-9 Optional: Claire Fox•49 minutes
3-10 Optional: Munira Mirza•25 minutes
3-11 Optional: Simon Fanshawe•32 minutes
1 lecture•Total 10 minutes
Ratings, further readings and references•10 minutes
2 devoirs•Total 60 minutes
Module 3 Preliminary Practice Quiz: How to Kill Free Speech With Kindness•30 minutes
Final Comprehensive Exam: The Ultimate Balancing Act - From Bristling to Bridging•30 minutes
Instructeurs
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Felipe M.
Étudiant(e) depuis 2018
’Pouvoir suivre des cours à mon rythme à été une expérience extraordinaire. Je peux apprendre chaque fois que mon emploi du temps me le permet et en fonction de mon humeur.’
Jennifer J.
Étudiant(e) depuis 2020
’J'ai directement appliqué les concepts et les compétences que j'ai appris de mes cours à un nouveau projet passionnant au travail.’
Larry W.
Étudiant(e) depuis 2021
’Lorsque j'ai besoin de cours sur des sujets que mon université ne propose pas, Coursera est l'un des meilleurs endroits où se rendre.’
Chaitanya A.
’Apprendre, ce n'est pas seulement s'améliorer dans son travail : c'est bien plus que cela. Coursera me permet d'apprendre sans limites.’
Avis des étudiants
4.9
29 avis
5 stars
90 %
4 stars
10 %
3 stars
0 %
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1 star
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Affichage de 3 sur 29
L
LB
5·
Révisé le 6 déc. 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.
T
TJ
5·
Révisé le 16 mai 2026
Excellent teaching course with plenty of review opportunities to help an old memory to take concepts in.
M
MA
5·
Révisé le 3 oct. 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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