FREE EXPRESSION OR EQUAL SPEECH?

IF 0.3 4区 哲学 Q4 ETHICS
Teresa M. Bejan
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引用次数: 2

Abstract

Abstract The classical liberal doctrine of free expression asserts the priority of speech as an extension of the freedom of thought. Yet its critics argue that freedom of expression, itself, demands the suppression of the so-called “silencing speech” of racists, sexists, and so on, as a threat to the equal expressive rights of others. This essay argues that the claim to free expression must be distinguished from claims to equal speech. The former asserts an equal right to express one’s thoughts without interference; the latter the right to address others, and to receive a hearing and consideration from them, in turn. I explore the theory of equal speech in light of the ancient Athenian practice of isegoria and argue that the equality demanded is not distributive but relational: an equal speaker’s voice should be counted as “on a par” with others. This ideal better captures critics’ concerns about silencing speech than do their appeals to free expression. Insofar as epistemic and status-harms provide grounds for the suppression and exclusion of some speech and speakers, the ideal of equal speech is more closely connected with the freedom of association than of thought. Noticing this draws attention to the continuing—and potentially problematic—importance of exclusion in constituting effective sites of equal speech today.
言论自由还是言论平等?
古典自由主义的言论自由学说主张言论的优先权是思想自由的延伸。然而,批评者认为,言论自由本身就要求压制种族主义者、性别歧视者等所谓的“沉默言论”,因为这是对他人平等表达权利的威胁。本文认为,言论自由的要求必须与言论平等的要求区分开来。前者主张不受干涉地表达自己思想的平等权利;后者有权向他人发言,并反过来听取他们的意见和考虑。我根据古代雅典人的伊塞哥里亚实践来探索平等言论的理论,并认为所要求的平等不是分配的,而是关系的:一个平等的说话者的声音应该被视为与其他人“平等”。这一理想更好地抓住了批评者对压制言论的担忧,而不是他们对言论自由的呼吁。就认知和地位伤害为压制和排斥某些言论和演讲者提供了理由而言,平等言论的理想与结社自由的关系比与思想自由的关系更密切。注意到这一点,让人们注意到,在今天构建有效的平等言论场所时,排他性的重要性仍然存在——而且可能存在问题。
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来源期刊
CiteScore
0.60
自引率
0.00%
发文量
0
期刊介绍: Social Philosophy and Policy is an interdisciplinary journal with an emphasis on the philosophical underpinnings of enduring social policy debates. The issues are thematic in format, examining a specific area of concern with contributions from scholars in different disciplines, especially philosophy, economics, political science and law. While not primarily a journal of policy prescriptions, some articles in each issue will typically connect theory with practice. The 2006 issues are "Justice and Global Politics" and "Taxation, Economic Prosperity, and Distributive Justice". The 2007 issues will be "Liberalism: Old and New" and "Ancient Greek Political Theory".
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