The Gray Area with Sean Illing How much free speech is too much?
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Sep 15, 2025 Fara Dabhoiwala, a historian at Princeton and author of 'What Is Free Speech?', dives deep into the complexities of free speech. She challenges the notion of free speech as an absolute right, tracing its historical evolution from pamphleteers to today's digital platforms. The discussion highlights the interplay of context and power in shaping speech, the hypocrisy often found in its application, and the pressing need for responsible regulation in a media-driven world. Dabhoiwala prompts listeners to rethink the balance between expression and potential harm.
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Speech Has A Social Shape
- Free speech isn't just absence of censorship; it always has a shape tied to who speaks and who listens.
- Structural inequalities mean some people's speech is taken less seriously than others.
Speech Is Action, Not Mere Thought
- Speech is an action aimed at producing effects in the world, not mere abstract thought.
- Context — speaker, audience, intent — fundamentally changes meaning and impact.
Narrow Harm, Broad Latitude
- Define harm narrowly and allow the broadest possible latitude for speech to avoid weaponized laws.
- Ask what freedom of expression is being invoked in each case before restricting it.
