The distinctly contemporary proliferation of pornography and hate speech poses a challenge to liberalism's traditional ideal of a 'marketplace of ideas' facilitated by state neutrality about the content of speech. This new study argues that the liberal state ought to depart from neutrality to meet this challenge.

'The Cost of Free Speech is certainly worth its price. Clear, well organized, and thoroughly argued, it simultaneously provides a non-superficial introduction to the central theoretical issues at the intersection of political philosophy and free speech and significant food for thought for those more familiar with the relevant topics.' - Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews

Autorentext
ABIGAIL LEVIN is Assistant Professor of Philosophy at Niagara University, New York, USA.

Inhalt
Acknowledgements Introduction Harm, Equality, and the Common Interest Equality, Liberty, and Hard Cases Equality, Liberty, and Hard Cases: A Contemporary View Power and Politics: Speech Acts and Freedom of Expression Censorship and Silencing The Liberal State Reconceived: Advocacy and Jurisprudence in the Service of Equality The Courts and the Constitution: Hate Speech and Pornography in the U.S., Canada, and Europe Conclusion Appendix A: Relevant Sections of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms Appendix B: Relevant Sections of the Bill of Rights of the United States Endnotes Selected Bibliography Index