Question 1

Hate speech is not merely unpleasant or offensive, because it can leave

Accepted Answer

Hate speech can have physical impacts on its targets, such as causing them to feel threatened, intimidated, or unsafe.

Question 2

The central conflict in campus free speech controversies is between two moral goods that are crucial to higher education: (1) free speech that enables the expression of all ideas and the unfettered search for truth, and (2) a campus environment that protects and respects the learning experiences of all students.

Accepted Answer

The central conflict in campus free speech controversies indeed revolves around balancing the moral good of free speech, which allows for the expression of diverse ideas and the pursuit of truth, against the need to create a campus environment that is inclusive and respectful of all students' learning experiences. This balance is crucial in higher education to ensure both the free exchange of ideas and a supportive educational atmosphere.

Question 3

Consider the following argument: 
1. If, on balance, speech codes do more harm than good, they should be eliminated. 
2. Speech codes do harm by impeding the search for knowledge, undermining democracy, banning the expression of unpopular ideas and views, and hampering free and open dialogue.
3. Speech codes may do good by preventing some harm to vulnerable groups, but the good does not outweigh the harm the codes cause.
4. Therefore, speech codes should be eliminated. Which of the statements above would be accepted by both supporters and opponents of speech codes?

Accepted Answer

Statement 1 is a conditional statement that sets a criterion for evaluating speech codes without taking a stance on whether they do more harm than good. Both supporters and opponents could agree on this criterion as a basis for discussion.

Question 4

Some consequentialists have argued that speech critical of an identity group or speech that upsets people in such a group is in fact a form of violence. They contend such violent speech is

Accepted Answer

Consequentialists who argue that speech critical of an identity group is a form of violence typically believe that because this speech is definitely harmful, it should be banned on those grounds.

Question 5

Which philosopher said that "free and unfettered debate is vital for the pursuit of truth"?

Accepted Answer

John Stuart Mill, in his work "On Liberty," argued that free and unfettered debate is essential for the pursuit of truth, as it allows for the exchange and testing of ideas.

Question 6

Some consequentialists recognize the harms of hate speech, but argue that censoring it causes even more harm. They therefore endorse

Accepted Answer

Consequentialists who recognize the harms of hate speech but believe censoring it causes more harm would logically endorse allowing citizens the freedom to express hate speech, as they prioritize the overall consequences (less harm) over the act of censorship itself.

Question 7

Free speech scholars Erwin Chemerinsky and Howard Gillman explain the tendency of college students to favor disciplinary action for those who use offensive language by pointing out that

Accepted Answer

Chemerinsky and Gillman suggest that the current generation of college students is particularly sensitive to the harm caused by bullying and hateful speech, which explains their inclination towards supporting disciplinary actions for offensive language use.

Question 8

The right to express your opinions or ideas without burdensome restraints from government or society is called

Accepted Answer

Free speech refers to the right to express one's opinions or ideas without facing undue censorship or restraint from the government or society.

Question 9

A 2015 survey of college students showed that almost three-quarters favor disciplinary action for any student or faculty member on campus who uses language that is considered racist, sexist, homophobic, or otherwise offensive.

Accepted Answer

The 2015 survey indeed found that a significant majority of college students supported disciplinary action against those who use language considered discriminatory or offensive, reflecting a strong inclination towards maintaining a respectful and inclusive campus environment.

Question 10

The terms "free speech" and "free expression" refer only to speaking, not to other actions, such as acting, painting, or burning flags.

Accepted Answer

The terms "free speech" and "free expression" encompass a wide range of activities beyond verbal communication, including artistic expressions, performances, and symbolic acts like flag burning, as these are considered forms of expressing ideas and opinions.

Question 11

The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that the government cannot forbid or punish any speech unless it is an instance of

Accepted Answer

The U.S. Supreme Court has established that the government cannot restrict speech unless it falls into specific categories such as libel, incitement to lawlessness, obscenity, harassment, serious threats, or "fighting words," which are all recognized as exceptions to the First Amendment protections.

Question 12

The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that any speech found to be offensive, such as antiwar protests, antigovernment rhetoric, blasphemy, and obscene speech, may be banned by the government.

Accepted Answer

The U.S. Supreme Court has consistently held that speech cannot be banned simply because it is offensive, including antiwar protests, antigovernment rhetoric, blasphemy, and obscene speech, recognizing broad protections under the First Amendment, except in very specific and narrowly defined circumstances.

Question 13

Courts have often ruled against the use of speech codes at colleges and universities because the codes were found to be

Accepted Answer

Courts have often ruled against speech codes because they tend to be too vague and overly broad, encompassing speech that is protected under the First Amendment. This makes them unconstitutional or unenforceable as they can infringe on free speech rights.

Question 14

In 2017, the website security company Cloudflare discontinued its relationship with the Daily Stormer, a website run by white supremacists who spread hateful, offensive messages online. Without Cloudflare's protection, the Daily Stormer was forced to retreat to the Dark Net, where it is inaccessible to the majority of Internet users. Someone with a nonconsequentialist perspective on free speech would say that Cloudflare's decision was

Accepted Answer

Nonconsequentialists focus on the principles behind actions rather than the outcomes. They might argue that censoring simply because content is offensive can be problematic, as it goes against the principle of free speech regardless of the content's nature.

Question 15

Free speech is what is called an absolute right.

Accepted Answer

Free speech, while a fundamental right, is not absolute. It can be limited under certain circumstances, such as to prevent incitement to violence, hate speech, or defamation.

Question 16

Consequentialists necessarily reject restrictions on free speech, because the consequences of doing so are always a net harm.

Accepted Answer

Consequentialists evaluate actions based on their outcomes, and whether they reject restrictions on free speech depends on their assessment of the consequences. If they believe restricting certain speech leads to better overall outcomes, they may support it.

Question 17

The most frequently heard arguments about campus free speech concern whether hate speech should be regulated to prevent harm to vulnerable groups.

Accepted Answer

The debate around campus free speech often centers on the balance between protecting free expression and preventing harm to vulnerable groups through the regulation of hate speech.

Question 18

Nonconsequentialists necessarily hold the view that the right of free speech is absolute, overriding such competing values as justice, equality, security, and the right to privacy.

Accepted Answer

Nonconsequentialists believe that the morality of an action is not solely determined by its outcomes but by whether it adheres to certain moral principles or duties. They do not necessarily hold that any single right, such as free speech, is absolute and can override all other values.

Question 19

According to the nonconsequentialist approach to the freedom of speech, this freedom is allowed up to, but not beyond, the point at which it

Accepted Answer

Nonconsequentialist approaches to freedom of speech emphasize rights and duties over the outcomes of speech. Thus, the limit to freedom of speech, from this perspective, is when it infringes on someone else's similar rights, such as their own freedom of speech.

Question 20

According to Chemerinsky and Gillman, which of the following kinds of on-campus speech should be permitted without punishment?

Accepted Answer

Chemerinsky and Gillman argue that offensive language should be permitted without punishment on campuses, as it falls under the protection of free speech. They emphasize the importance of protecting free speech rights, even when the speech is offensive, as long as it does not cross into harassment, threats, or other forms of unprotected speech.

Quiz 16: Free Speech on Campus