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The cited xkcd also does not do a good job of addressing freedom of speech. Many writers have used "free of speech" to refer to a broad social and cultural prin
by om2 11y ago
The cited xkcd also does not do a good job of addressing freedom of speech. Many writers have used "free of speech" to refer to a broad social and cultural principle, not merely a legal doctrine, and defended it on grounds that apply just as much against private censorship and social ostracism as much as against government censorship. The idea that free speech is a concept that is applicable only to government restrictions is of fairly recent vintage, and historically was most used by libertarians rather than the progressives who more often promote it now. In summary, John Stuart Mill had much clearer and sounder ideas about free speech than Randall Munroe.
- novembermike 11y agoThe comic doesn't actually address freedom of speech, it addresses the First Amendment of the United States Constitution (and conflates it with free speech). The first is an amendment to a contract between the people of the United States and the government of the United States and the second is a philosophical principle. The concept of Free Speech did not start with the United States constitution and any reference to the First Amendment when referencing Free Speech kind of misses the point.