PHIL569A

042090

This course explores the philosophical underpinnings of freedom of expression, and the ways in which this right is legally and constitutionally protected in United States and the European Union. Philosophically, freedom of expression can be justified either by a desire to protect the liberty of speakers, or by support for the dignity of both speakers and hearers. In practice, the US Supreme Court typically adopts the liberty perspective, while the European Court of Human Rights adopts the dignity perspective. The course considers the ways in which the liberty/dignity tension has materialized in the actual jurisprudence of the two courts in three basic areas of freedom of expression: defamation, hate speech, and media pluralism.

GRD - Regular Grades A, B, C, D, E

Graduate

CE - CL (Cross Listed)

PHIL469A