John,
Arising from the discussion, I think my 1997 paper
(http://www.psych.utoronto.ca/users/furedy/Papers/af/Academic%20Freedom.doc)
is relevant. Among the points I make is to recognize limits to free speech
imposed by the sort of profession one is engaged in (so, e.g., journalists
are bound not to lie, and teachers who are in a position to evaluate
students are bound not to indoctinate), but as a (n adult) citizen in a free
country, I maintain that speech should be totally free of any state
censorship.
The other limits are set in terms of legal prosecution for libel/defamation,
and in terms of one's reputation if one makes idiotic remarks.
All the best, John
John J. Furedy, Ph.D.
Emeritus Professor of Psychology, University of Toronto
Cross appointments: Ege University, Turkey; Bar-Ilan and Haifa
Universities, Israel.
"A life without inquiry is not the life for man."
Email address: [email protected]
Web: http://www.psych.utoronto.ca/~furedy
Now living in Sydney, Australia. Please email for postal address.
----- Original Message -----
From: "John Bentley" <[email protected]>
To: "SydPhil Broadcast" <[email protected]>
Sent: Saturday, December 13, 2008 5:22 PM
Subject: [SydPhil] Wed 17 Dec 2008. The proposed Australian internet
cleanfeed is immoral (John Bentley)
Wed 17 Dec 2008 The proposed Australian internet clean feed is immoral
(John Bentley)
It is lamentable that the first line of defence to the proposed Internet
clean feed has come from computer technicians (as technicians). The
proposal
is not limited to blocking child pornography but all illegal content. Even
if the proposed internet clean feed worked, completely and only blocking
illegal content, and not effecting speed, it would be immoral (that which
ought not be done, for the general benefit). Sometimes speech should be,
and
is, justly limited. However, there are many expressions that are presently
illegal which constitute an unjust limit to free speech. It ought not be
illegal to: make historical claims contrary to evidence (eg holocaust
denial); to vilify persons on the basis of race, religion, gender,
sexuality
or other group characteristics; to express or promote hate; to depict
sexual
violence; to make false moral claims which the majority disagree with (eg
advocate sexual violence); to advocate suicide, to advocate terrorism, or
to
express that which is offensive. Furthermore, any content that an adult
should be free to access should be free for a child to access. It ought be
illegal for a parent to limit a child's access to content. All of us,
adult
or child, should have access to content that may harm or disturb us.
Time and Place for Philorum Group @ Central
1st and 3rd Wednesdays of every month.
18:15 for a 18:30 Start. Finish 21:30
(Feel free to come and go at any point during the night.)
The Members Bar, Floor 1
(Keep winding up to the top of the stairs.)
The Gaelic Club
64 Devonshire Street, Surry Hills
Sydney, Australia
(100 metres from a Central railway station exit.)
Cost: Free (Patronise the bar).
http://www.philorum.org/centralFutureCalendar.html
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