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Noam Chomsky - Freedom of Speech for Views You Don't Like

Chomsky's Philosophy · 183.1K views · 2017-02-03 · 10:16

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Overview

A ten-minute clip of Noam Chomsky on the Faurisson affair and free speech. He argues that supporting free speech means defending views you despise.

On Hacker News

HN quotes it in censorship and moderation threads for Chomsky's principle that free speech must cover speech you dislike.

Recommended by 1 HN people across 1 months · HN mentions 2020–2021

Topics

Free speech, censorship & civil libertiesPhilosophy & ethics
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chomskycensorshipfaurisson affaircivil libertiespolitical philosophy

What people said

sebmellen · 2020-10 · Recommendation

If you're asking this question, you don't understand the principles of freedom of speech. Read the Aaron Swartz essay linked above, and while you're at it, watch this, from Noam Chomsky: [VIDEO] .

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charbonneau · 2021-09 · Reference

"If you're in favor of freedom of speech, that means you're in favor of speech precisely for views you despise" - Noam Chomsky [VIDEO]

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brigandish · 2021-03 · Reference

It's an irony that the kind of free speech you appear to support (and please correct me if I'm wrong) existed in fascist states like Nazi Germany and fascist Italy, because, as Chomsky points out here[1] "Goebbels was in favour of freedom of speech for views he liked". I'd suggest you might try the other path, as Chomsky also suggests: > “If you're in favour of freedom of speech that means you're in favour of freedom of speech precisely for views you despise. Otherwise you're not in favour of freedom of speech. > There's two positions you can have on freedom of speech, and you can decide which position you want.” [1] [VIDEO]

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Sources

Video by Chomsky's Philosophy, played through YouTube.

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