Free and Civil Speech

Catalog description

Americans today live in a time of deep political polarization and self-segregation. Those with whom we have disagreements, assuming we interact with them at all, are often viewed as not just wrong but as irrational and immoral. What are the causes and costs of these trends? Are there habits of mind that we might cultivate to build a healthier democracy? The course consists of four parts. First we will consider the challenges and trends facing us today with respect to speech and deliberation. Next we’ll move on to examine the noteworthy authors who have grappled with questions of speech—from the most strident proponents of freedom of speech to its most vociferous critics. Part three examines how the cultivation of particular virtues might affect our capacity for deliberation and community. The final part of the course will consist of a series of debates on topics of public interest. IC. PA-4A.