The History of Philosophical Discussions of Free Speech (original) (raw)

This paper considers how Ancient Greek philosophers, medieval theologians, classical liberals, and reactionaries have considered the topic of freedom of speech. It examines the arguments for suppressing and for allowing dangerous conversations and argues that the medieval disputation provided a privileged arena for free speech within a context of repression of speech perceived as being dangerous, suggesting a potential compatibility between unhindered and regulated discourse. The reactionary argument that freedom is only valuable within a context of certain undisputed values is considered, as are the contemporary arguments leveled against classical liberals like Rousseau, Locke, and Mill. In connection with the disputation, a Kantian case for academic freedom within the context of social speech regulation is considered.