"Hate Speech or Free Speech?" with Prof. Alan Davison

Uncomfortable Conversations with Josh Szeps

Perhaps the most dangerous idea is what to do about dangerous ideas.

A spate of anti-semitic attacks has led to new laws that will punish Australians for "hate speech". But are hate-speech laws a band-aid over deeper problems like ethnic bigotry, religious conservatism, historical ignorance, social media, migrant integration, university bias, and Islamism - problems which may have been addressed if we'd spoken more openly about them in the first place?

That's the argument of Professor Alan Davison, the incoming president of Australia's Free Speech Union. He and Josh discuss free speech, diversity, journalistic integrity, critical thinking, and who gets to speak for minority groups.

Is it time to speak more fearlessly, not less? Or is the free-speech position just an excuse for more division and hate?

Want to see this conversation at your leisure? Watch it on YouTube. And if you love all two hours of it (who doesn't?), chances are you'll enjoy the rest of the content on the Uncomfy Convos Substack page.

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