Humanities & Science
Personal Development: Philosophy - Free Speech and Responsibility
Course details
Course code
Q00012861Course date
Start: 17/01/24
End: 20/03/24
Number of classes
9 sessionsTutor
Bettina LangeFee range
Free to £66.60
How you'll learn
Level of study
Availability
You can enrol online for this course
Course overview
Free Speech is used to criticise 'cancel culture' and harmful consequences of opinions are used to justify restricting free expression. Debates around free speech can get heated, especially online. Views about the role of women and peoples' right to political self-determination are examples of contested issues. This course is an opportunity to reflect and to examine the power of what we say (or communicate in other ways). Using philosophical ideas, we will consider the meaning, importance and limits of the freedom to speak your mind and the responsibilities we have in relation to this freedom.
Course description
This course uses philosophical ideas to examine language, power, freedom and responsibility. This course will cover:
1. What 'freedom of speech' means, why it is considered important and arguments for and against limiting it ( JS Mill and current approaches).
2. Language as a system of pre-existing meanings
3. Consequences of words
4. Language and power relations (for examples in the ideas of M Fricker)
5. Speaking, intention and responsibility, both individual and collective; unintended consequences (using ethical theories including J Habermas)
6. Arguments for and against prohibiting certain words, phrases or symbols.
A related course on the wider topic of tolerance and its limits will be offered after Easter
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