Uneven Epithets
In this paper, I derive a test for distinguishing between derogatory terms by expanding upon Seana Shiffrin’s recent “thinker-based approach.” Protection on her account extends to many forms of speech due to a connection between speech and an individual’s development of autonomous thought. Shiffrin...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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University of Western Ontario
2019-12-01
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| Series: | Feminist Philosophy Quarterly |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://ojs.lib.uwo.ca/index.php/fpq/article/view/5424 |
| _version_ | 1828949367734665216 |
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| author | Nicole Ramsoomair |
| author_facet | Nicole Ramsoomair |
| author_sort | Nicole Ramsoomair |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In this paper, I derive a test for distinguishing between derogatory terms by expanding upon Seana Shiffrin’s recent “thinker-based approach.” Protection on her account extends to many forms of speech due to a connection between speech and an individual’s development of autonomous thought. Shiffrin questions whether there is protection for corporate and commercial speech. The latter have a tendency to interfere with autonomous thought processes and do not clearly serve their development. I argue that these reasons for limitation serve as a basis for making nuanced distinctions for general regulation and applying this approach to controversies surrounding derogatory team names in sport. Many kinds of speech can be offensive and derogatory, yet I argue that only some may be said to be parasitic on communicative endeavors and legitimately fall outside free speech values as a result. Regulation should not be concerned with the content of speech, the manner in which certain words are spoken, or even the speaker’s positive or negative intent. Instead, the focus should remain on autonomous mental development of speakers and hearers. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-14T06:06:16Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d719bfc060944dda888bbd38693f56a5 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2371-2570 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-14T06:06:16Z |
| publishDate | 2019-12-01 |
| publisher | University of Western Ontario |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Feminist Philosophy Quarterly |
| spelling | doaj.art-d719bfc060944dda888bbd38693f56a52022-12-21T23:14:18ZengUniversity of Western OntarioFeminist Philosophy Quarterly2371-25702019-12-015410.5206/fpq/2019.4.5424Uneven EpithetsNicole Ramsoomair0McGill UniversityIn this paper, I derive a test for distinguishing between derogatory terms by expanding upon Seana Shiffrin’s recent “thinker-based approach.” Protection on her account extends to many forms of speech due to a connection between speech and an individual’s development of autonomous thought. Shiffrin questions whether there is protection for corporate and commercial speech. The latter have a tendency to interfere with autonomous thought processes and do not clearly serve their development. I argue that these reasons for limitation serve as a basis for making nuanced distinctions for general regulation and applying this approach to controversies surrounding derogatory team names in sport. Many kinds of speech can be offensive and derogatory, yet I argue that only some may be said to be parasitic on communicative endeavors and legitimately fall outside free speech values as a result. Regulation should not be concerned with the content of speech, the manner in which certain words are spoken, or even the speaker’s positive or negative intent. Instead, the focus should remain on autonomous mental development of speakers and hearers.https://ojs.lib.uwo.ca/index.php/fpq/article/view/5424Freedom of SpeechAutonomySocial PhilosophyThinker-based ApproachDerogatory Speech |
| spellingShingle | Nicole Ramsoomair Uneven Epithets Feminist Philosophy Quarterly Freedom of Speech Autonomy Social Philosophy Thinker-based Approach Derogatory Speech |
| title | Uneven Epithets |
| title_full | Uneven Epithets |
| title_fullStr | Uneven Epithets |
| title_full_unstemmed | Uneven Epithets |
| title_short | Uneven Epithets |
| title_sort | uneven epithets |
| topic | Freedom of Speech Autonomy Social Philosophy Thinker-based Approach Derogatory Speech |
| url | https://ojs.lib.uwo.ca/index.php/fpq/article/view/5424 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT nicoleramsoomair unevenepithets |