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A Republican Theory of Free SpeechCritical Republicanism and Harmful Speech

A Republican Theory of Free Speech: Critical Republicanism and Harmful Speech [This chapter proposes a critical republican response to harmful speech. The neo-republican revival, as a theory concerned with protecting the non-dominated status of individuals, proves to be an effective alternative to the non-interference framing of speech. After discussing some of the main principles of Philip Pettit’s influential neo-republican account, I then offer two substantial critiques. Pettit’s approach, as I argue, fails to sufficiently account for the ways in which discursive status is undermined by those social norms that map on to unjust social hierarchies. In addition, Pettit’s complaint and common awareness provisos inhibit the emancipatory potential of republicanism by overlooking the effects of structural barriers on an individual’s equal status. In response, I defend a critical republican alternative, where structural barriers to the exercise of discursive voice are considered proper objects of the republican project. In concluding, I suggest that a critical republican account of civility best serves the goals of a republican theory of free speech by taking seriously the role of expressive respect in all citizen relations.] http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png

A Republican Theory of Free SpeechCritical Republicanism and Harmful Speech

Whitten, Suzanne
Springer Journals — Oct 23, 2021
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Publisher
Springer International Publishing
Copyright
© The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2022
ISBN
978-3-030-78630-4
Pages
85 –133
DOI
10.1007/978-3-030-78631-1_4
Publisher site
See Chapter on Publisher Site

Abstract

[This chapter proposes a critical republican response to harmful speech. The neo-republican revival, as a theory concerned with protecting the non-dominated status of individuals, proves to be an effective alternative to the non-interference framing of speech. After discussing some of the main principles of Philip Pettit’s influential neo-republican account, I then offer two substantial critiques. Pettit’s approach, as I argue, fails to sufficiently account for the ways in which discursive status is undermined by those social norms that map on to unjust social hierarchies. In addition, Pettit’s complaint and common awareness provisos inhibit the emancipatory potential of republicanism by overlooking the effects of structural barriers on an individual’s equal status. In response, I defend a critical republican alternative, where structural barriers to the exercise of discursive voice are considered proper objects of the republican project. In concluding, I suggest that a critical republican account of civility best serves the goals of a republican theory of free speech by taking seriously the role of expressive respect in all citizen relations.]

Published: Oct 23, 2021

Keywords: Republicanism; Pettit; Critical republicanism; Civility; Non-domination; Vigilance

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