Toleration, self-expression and communication

Thursday 4 March 2010, 6.00PM

Speaker: Baroness Onora O'Neill

Morrell Lecture on Toleration

Does toleration demand more than indifference to what others do and say? If so tolerating what they say is rather easy: we can simply ignore it. This minimal view of toleration  as indifference makes sense if freedom of speech is no more than freedom of expression. Why should it be hard to  tolerate self-expression – unless it has further, harmful effects?  The speaker will argue that the Millian view that speech should be prohibited only if its further consequences are harmful (stampedes  in crowded theatre,  ruined reputations) draws the wrong boundary.  If we think of others’ speech as a matter of communication, and not merely of self expression, we must see it as intrinsically audience directed, and aiming to reach and affect others.  Two points emerge from this more robust view of speech. First, it shows that toleration of others’ speech will often be hard, because it may require us to grasp and respond to unwelcome, offensive, even dangerous speech — even if it is  said to have no ‘further’ effects.  Second, and consequently, we will have to conclude that toleration even of speech must have limits.   Communicative acts can harm in various  ways, and toleration is only one of a range of responses that must be considered.  

Please note, this lecture will now start at 6pm, not 6.30pm as previously advertised.

Location: Room P/X001, Physics

Admission: Admission is free and open to all

Email: publiclectures@york.ac.uk

Telephone: 01904 432622