tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24761391.post2145915355697752789..comments2023-10-26T22:06:11.166+11:00Comments on Metamagician3000: Currently reading: In Defence of Freedom of SpeechRussell Blackfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12431324430596809958noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24761391.post-9709560353657630952012-06-16T12:27:33.070+10:002012-06-16T12:27:33.070+10:00You've piqued my interest, Russell: I must get...You've piqued my interest, Russell: I must get this book and have a look. Once I've finished marking and have a life again!Legal Eaglehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01096038577529334966noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24761391.post-88297541963654855802012-06-16T01:27:26.497+10:002012-06-16T01:27:26.497+10:00Warren, good point. I fight that battle every day...Warren, good point. I fight that battle every day in my English composition classes. One essential skill to be taught at all levels of education is critical thinking, but that requires people actually to think--gasp!Greg Camphttp://englreadingandwriting.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24761391.post-68049977912625767552012-06-15T10:22:07.307+10:002012-06-15T10:22:07.307+10:00I haven't started it yet. I wonder whether it&...I haven't started it yet. I wonder whether it'll address some of my increasing concerns of the power of technology to enhance the ability for misinformation and misunderstanding to spread and dislodge real and more accurate information. <br /><br />It seems to me we're getting to the point where the power an individual has is increasingly potentially dangerous (I'm thinking specifically of areas of health, evolution, security and climate science). I guess this falls directly in the path of your question, Russell, about favouring things one agrees with over the alternative. I haven't read enough or thought long enough about this to make a more meaningful assessment of this situation yet.Warrenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10722704010357047930noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24761391.post-47393317293366223482012-06-14T22:17:22.931+10:002012-06-14T22:17:22.931+10:00TRM, the Bolt decision doesn't really have a b...TRM, the Bolt decision doesn't really have a big role in the book. I guess the emphasis in the title is for topicality and commercial reasons. <br /><br />That said, Berg is much closer to being an absolutist about freedom of speech than I am, and I guess that's because he's much closer to being an absolutist about what he calls "moral autonomy".<br /><br />I'm still enjoying it, though, as I get close to the end.Russell Blackfordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12431324430596809958noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24761391.post-16153720551983826632012-06-14T22:14:11.029+10:002012-06-14T22:14:11.029+10:00Greg, Australians usually say that they favour fre...Greg, Australians usually say that they favour freedom of speech and think it's important. But what that means in practice is not so certain - it's easy to favour freedom of speech for speech of kinds that you personally find inoffensive. The tough question is always whether you favour freedom of speech for speech of kinds that you despise, or resent, or object to morally, etc. I'm not sure how many Australians are up to the latter.Russell Blackfordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12431324430596809958noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24761391.post-21918880681268833482012-06-14T19:40:53.286+10:002012-06-14T19:40:53.286+10:00I'm in the same position, and I'm guessing...I'm in the same position, and I'm guessing at approximately the same stage in the book. I'm guessing I may not agree with some of the second half when it comes to the Bolt decision, but thus far am thoroughly enjoying it.The Rev Mountainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01176261120721756587noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24761391.post-53749503340864188952012-06-14T19:19:15.338+10:002012-06-14T19:19:15.338+10:00Here in the U.S. of A., we feel rather pleased abo...Here in the U.S. of A., we feel rather pleased about ourselves regarding free speech--until such time as difficult cases arise, that is. We also have a recent Supreme Court ruling that basically declared money to be a form of speech, meaning that a few have much louder voices.<br /><br />I lean toward the view that even yelling "fire!" in a crowded theater is all right, so long as it was meant as a point of discussion. What's the typical Australian position on the subject?Greg Camphttp://englreadingandwriting.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.com