Tolerating Racism and Hate Speech: A Critique of C.E. Baker’s “Almost” Absolutism

Cohen-Almagor, Raphael

Abstract

This chapter takes issue with C.E. Baker’s stance that the Free Speech Principle should protect even the most harmful and vile expression because such protection would promote individual self-government, enhance personal autonomy, and promote critical thinking. It is argued that a balance needs to be struck between these goods and the impact of the speech in question on its target group. The protection of free speech cannot be offered in isolation from its wider consequences, not only those that affect the speaker but also those that affect those whom the speaker intended to influence. Furthermore, the content of the speech should be evaluated on its face value. Incitement and grave offenses, morally on a par with physical harm, should be excluded from the Free Speech Principle.

Citation

Cohen-Almagor, R. (2021). Tolerating Racism and Hate Speech: A Critique of C.E. Baker’s “Almost” Absolutism. In M. Sardoč (Ed.), The Palgrave Handbook of Toleration (1-24). Cham: Palgrave Macmillan. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-03227-2_8-1

• Acceptance Date: Dec 30, 2020
• Online Publication Date: Apr 28, 2021
• Publication Date: 2021
• Deposit Date: Mar 13, 2022
• Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan
• Pages: 1-24
• Book Title: The Palgrave Handbook of Toleration
• Chapter Number: 15
• ISBN: 9783030032272
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-03227-2_8-1
• Keywords: Autonomy; Baker; Balancing; Freedom of expression; Hate; Mill
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/3762417
• Publisher URL: https://link.springer.com/referenceworkentry/10.1007%2F978-3-030-03227-2_8-1
• Additional Information: Received: 21 May 2019, 00:00:00; Accepted: 30 December 2020, 00:00:00; First Online: 28 April 2021