Stephen Downes

Knowledge, Learning, Community

The question of free speech is an issue both in online discussions and in edcuational institutions. And with the fluid state of governance worldwide - from Russia to Egypt to Singapore - the question of what sort of speech ought to be allowed, and what sort prohibvited, occupies all nations. Few supposes that all speech ought to be allowed; even those radical supporters of unrestrained expression (mostly south of the border here) bristle when you challenge their core beliefs. To my mind, the line is a simple one, though in prasctice not always easy to discern: the only speech that should be prohibited is a speech act, and the only act that should be prohibited is one which deliberately causes harm to another.

Today: 0 Total: 400 [Direct link] [Share]

Image from the website


Stephen Downes Stephen Downes, Casselman, Canada
stephen@downes.ca

Copyright 2025
Last Updated: Aug 28, 2025 8:35 p.m.

Canadian Flag Creative Commons License.