Texas A&M Bans Plato, Philosophy Professor’s Epic Response
The Original Post
Text of of the letter the professor sent to admin below. Malicious compliance is the best compliance.
\———
Dr. Sweet,
As you may have noticed, I believe it is important to document that philosophy professors at Texas A&M University are not permitted to teach Plato at their own discretion.
To comply with the new censorship requirements, I have replaced the affected module with lectures on free speech and academic freedom. The censored material is marked in red in the attached document. The required text for the new module is:
Texas A&M, Under New Curriculum Limits, Warns Professor Not to Teach Plato”, The New York Times, January 8, 2026.
[Texas A&M Warns Professor Not to Teach Plato Because of Gender Rules – The New York Times](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/07/us/tamu-plato-race-gender.html)
Respectfully,
Martin Peterson
Sue G. and Harry E. Bovay Jr. Chair
Department of Philosophy Texas A&M University [www.martinpeterson.org](http://www.martinpeterson.org)
What Reddit Said
Redditors immediately praised Professor Peterson’s brilliant response. Most commenters celebrated the perfect example of malicious compliance in action. However, many also expressed genuine concern about academic freedom being restricted at public universities.
The community was particularly impressed by the professor’s professionalism combined with subtle rebellion. Moreover, users noted how he turned censorship into a teachable moment about free speech. In fact, many called it the most elegant form of protest they’d ever seen.
The Verdict
The overwhelming consensus: this Texas A&M bans Plato philosophy controversy showcases malicious compliance at its finest. Professor Peterson found the perfect way to comply with restrictions while making his point crystal clear. This represents a brilliant example of malicious compliance that doubles as effective workplace resistance.
Original post from r/MaliciousCompliance (2,725 upvotes, 181 comments)