I am Lucifer DeMorte

The Moral Status of Hate Speech Bans

(If you are in IME 4020, this is a topic for Dr. Young's side of the class.)

<added 3/28/25> Hate speech is defined as "talk that attacks an individual or a specific group based on a protected attribute such as the target’s sexual orientation, gender, religion, disability, color, or country of origin. Some countries consider hate speech to be a crime, because it encourages discrimination, intimidation, and violence toward the group or individual being targeted." (https://legaldictionary.net/hate-speech/)

Many governments ban hate speech. Are these bans morally permissible, morally required, or morally prohibited? The following links provide arguments on all sides of this issue. Your task is to find the best pro-ban argument you can, the best anti-ban argument you can, logically analyze both arguments, and figure out which argument best stands up to criticism.

You must seriously consider the possibility that there is a kind of hate speech that, while not explicitly calling for immediate violence, does significantly raise the probability that violence will happen. If you think such speech doesn't exist, explain why you think so. Or, if you think violence inducing speech should be allowed, explain why you think so.

(Added 3/31/25) Here's a link to a story in which the mere expression of a view caused actual danger to actual people: Pizzagate.

Nineteen arguments for hate speech bans and against them

Effects of hate speech

Please pay at least some attention to the things that can happen as a result of hate speech.

https://www.brookings.edu/articles/how-hateful-rhetoric-connects-to-real-world-violence/

https://www.politico.eu/article/germany-hate-speech-internet-netzdg-controversial-legislation/

https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2021/02/16/pizzagate-qanon-capitol-attack/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlottesville_car_attack

Definitions of Hate Speech (Added 9/25/2024):

For the purposes of this particular paper, please use the following definition: "fully public speech that angrily or vehemently expresses or encourages hatred or indirectly or implicitly condones or encourages violence towards a person or group based on something such as political views, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or gender identification".

Other Definitions

United Nations.
American Library Association

European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI)

Once you've figured it all out as best you can, write a paper according to the instructions in odyssey.htm.

And always remember that hate speech has real-world consequences. People have been harassed, assaulted, injured, maimed, and even killed as a result of hate speech. And if you think this neve happens, you have to prove it never happens (added 10/8/24)

Wikipedia Discussion of What is and Isn't Banned in Various Countries