Freedom of Expression or Speech is crucial for a functioning democracy. It enables citizens to access and discuss information, ensuring informed decision-making and government accountability. This fundamental right supports a free media, fostering public debate on social, legal, and cultural issues.
Labeling certain speech as 'hate speech', or harmful, can dangerously curtail this freedom, leading to self-censorship and the deprivation of wisdom from hearers. To maintain a democracy, it is essential to protect freedom of speech from both government interference and cultural pressures like cancel culture. This will ensure a diverse range of opinions, constructive dialogue, and a culture of resilience.
To dive deeper, check out the following readings:
- John Stuart Mill - On Liberty ([ Ссылка ])
- Daniel Heil - Free Speech ([ Ссылка ])
- Debate on Freedom of Expression between author and philosopher Yoram Hazony and legal philosopher Robert P. George ([ Ссылка ] and [ Ссылка ])
Further audio resources:
- Roger Scruton - In Defence of Free Speech ([ Ссылка ])
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
John Anderson is the former Deputy Prime Minister of Australia, interviewing the world's foremost thought leaders about today's pressing social, cultural and political issues.
John believes proper, robust dialogue is necessary if we are to maintain our social strength and cohesion. As he puts it; "You cannot get good public policy out of a bad public debate."
If you value this content and want to see more like it, make sure you subscribe to the channel here: [ Ссылка ]
And stay right up to date with all John Anderson Media by subscribing to the newsletter here: [ Ссылка ]
Follow John on Twitter: [ Ссылка ]
Follow John on Facebook: [ Ссылка ]
Follow John on Instagram: [ Ссылка ]
Support the channel: [ Ссылка ]
Website: [ Ссылка ]
Podcast: [ Ссылка ]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
![](https://s2.save4k.ru/pic/B0K8uClCOC0/maxresdefault.jpg)