America's First Amendment guarantees its citizens the freedom of speech to a greater degree than most other countries in the world. In recent decades, advocates such as the ACLU have worked to expand the freedom of speech so that even potentially dangerous speech is protected, including Nazi marches and flag-burning. However, an increasing number of Americans have begun to question our commitment to free speech as excessively absolutist. They argue that wrong and dangerous speech should be checked for the sake of a robust understanding of justice and the good. Using essays by the philosophers Etienne Gilson, Alasdair MacIntyre, and Herbert Marcuse, we will examine the question of what we tolerate in society and why, and whether some kind of censorship is necessary in order for free speech to truly be a benefit.

This is a hybrid seminar. If you wish to attend in person, please sign up via the link below before 11:59 PM on the day ahead of the meeting. All participants will have their temperature taken upon entering the Riverside Church to access Morningside's office. Participants will be masked and socially distanced and will be required to send a screenshot of their green pass, VitalCheck certification, or other university-monitored health certification in advance.

The seminar is open to undergraduates, graduate students, and recent graduates.