Handbook home
Free Speech & Hate Speech (PHIL40013)
HonoursPoints: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
To learn more, visit 2023 Course and subject delivery.
About this subject
- Overview
- Eligibility and requirements
- Assessment
- Dates and times
- Further information
- Timetable(opens in new window)
Contact information
Semester 1
Overview
Availability | Semester 1 |
---|---|
Fees | Look up fees |
In 2021, Scotland introduced the new crime of 'stirring up hatred', and the state government of Victoria, Australia was poised to expand its law against vilification (which covered only race & religion) to additional protected categories of persons. Supporters see these measures as vital in tackling social inequality; opponents see them as infringing unacceptably on freedom of speech. In this course, we'll explore a range of issues in ethics and political philosophy concerning speech, connecting up with related issues in epistemology and the philosophy of language.
Specific topics may include: the moral justification for free speech, and permissible limits to free speech; questions about what counts as hate speech; questions about what counts as (merely) harmful speech; legal questions about the regulation of speech and expression (e.g. in vilification and hate crime laws); pornography's silencing and subordination of women; online speech & its restriction (including on social media platforms and in virtual game worlds); gaslighting; testimonial injustice and hermeneutical injustice; and testimony and deference in intersectional hierarchies.
Intended learning outcomes
Students who successfully complete this subject will:
- Develop a thorough understanding of contemporary issues in the philosophy of language and its social context;
- Gain an appreciation of the implications of these issues for other areas of philosophy, such as ethics, political philosophy, epistemology or logic;
- Be able to critically assess current research in this area.
Last updated: 31 January 2024
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
Admission into or selection of one of the following:
- Philosophy specialisation (formal) in the BH-ARTS Bachelor of Arts (Degree with Honours)
- Philosophy specialisation (formal) in the GDA-ARTS Graduate Diploma in Arts (Advanced)
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
None
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 31 January 2024
Assessment
Description | Timing | Percentage |
---|---|---|
Short essay
| During the teaching period | 20% |
Long essay
| End of semester | 80% |
Hurdle requirement: Students must attend a minimum of 75% of classes in order to pass this subject. All pieces of written work must be submitted to pass this subject. | Throughout the teaching period | N/A |
Additional details
Note: Assessment submitted late without an approved extension will be penalised at 2% per day. After five days late assessment will not be marked. In-class tasks missed without approval will not be marked.
Last updated: 31 January 2024
Dates & times
- Semester 1
Principal coordinator Holly Lawford-Smith Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours 24 hours - 1 x 2 hour seminar each week for 12 weeks Total time commitment 170 hours Teaching period 27 February 2023 to 28 May 2023 Last self-enrol date 10 March 2023 Census date 31 March 2023 Last date to withdraw without fail 5 May 2023 Assessment period ends 23 June 2023 Semester 1 contact information
Time commitment details
170 hours
What do these dates mean
Visit this webpage to find out about these key dates, including how they impact on:
- Your tuition fees, academic transcript and statements.
- And for Commonwealth Supported students, your:
- Student Learning Entitlement. This applies to all students enrolled in a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP).
Subjects withdrawn after the census date (including up to the ‘last day to withdraw without fail’) count toward the Student Learning Entitlement.
Last updated: 31 January 2024
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
None.
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Type Name Specialisation (formal) Philosophy Specialisation (formal) Philosophy Specialisation (formal) Philosophy Specialisation (formal) Philosophy Informal specialisation PD-ARTS Philosophy Specialisation (formal) Philosophy - Links to additional information
- Available through the Community Access Program
About the Community Access Program (CAP)
This subject is available through the Community Access Program (also called Single Subject Studies) which allows you to enrol in single subjects offered by the University of Melbourne, without the commitment required to complete a whole degree.
Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.
Additional information for this subject
Subject coordinator approval required
- Available to Study Abroad and/or Study Exchange Students
This subject is available to students studying at the University from eligible overseas institutions on exchange and study abroad. Students are required to satisfy any listed requirements, such as pre- and co-requisites, for enrolment in the subject.
Last updated: 31 January 2024