An Unholy Alliance
Keyword(s):
Why do conservatives and progressives often join forces to defend an absolute notion of free speech, when they fundamentally disagree on many other points? This chapter traces the political concept of free speech back to its origins in philosophy, political science, and commonsensical self-understanding. It shows that conservatives mean something quite different when they talk about free speech from the concept used by progressives, and that the surface agreement can lead to political alliances that do not last. The discussion includes the relativism at the heart of free speech absolutism, the risks of suppressing hate, the concept of self-governance as a limit to bad ideas, and the progressive case for unrestricted speech.
2018 ◽
Keyword(s):
2020 ◽
Keyword(s):
Keyword(s):
Keyword(s):