The Independent's journalism is supported by our readers. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn commission.
Free Speech, By Nigel Warburton
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Expert, concise but far from bland, Oxford's "Very Short Introductions" series must rank by now as a thinking reader's Wikipedia. For its 200th title, philosopher Nigel Warburton spans two millennia and more of knotty quarrels over freedom of expression and its moral or legal limits – from Socrates' death by hemlock to Salman Rushdie, David Irving and Aayan Hirsi Ali. As he writes, "almost every defender of free speech wishes to draw the line somewhere".
With admirable clarity, this VSI shows us how wobbly, hazy – but unavoidable – that line turns out to be. Warburton notes how internet rage and hate has written another chapter in this always-evolving story. If the art-and-porn section drags him into a quagmire (as it always does), he spares some good thoughts for the copyright wars that, in a digital age, can mean that the consumer's liberty entails the creator's penury.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments