Michael S. Moore: "Permissible Responses to Blameworthy Student Speech"

Michael S. Moore, Walgreen Chair and Co-Director of the Program in Law and Philosophy at Illinois College of Law, presents the ninth paper of Trinity Term: "Permissible University Responses to Blameworthy Student Speech" (co-authored with Heidi M. Hurd and forthcoming in Georgetown Journal of Law and Public Policy, 2024).

This seminar takes place in the Law Board Room, in the Faculty of Law, University of Oxford (St Cross Building St.Cross Rd, OX1 3UL) at 5:00pm on Wednesday 19 June.

ABSTRACT

The particular focus of this article stems from the general interest two of us have in the nature and value of individual liberty. It is by virtue of that general interest that we have more particular interests in people’s freedom of expression and the freedoms people have to respond to others’ expressions. And precisely because universities have traditionally constituted arenas in which people are encouraged to pit their ideas against one another, we take the issues of proper student speech, and of university administrations’ responses to student speech when it is improper, to be a fruitful venue in which to explore these interests of ours in personal liberty. The questions we explore are: when are students wrongful in their speech, and when should students who are wrongful in their speech be accorded “rights to do wrong,” by being left at liberty to say things they ought not to say?

On this narrowly tailored topic (of proper university responses to wrongful student speech), we take up three questions. First, what is the moral latitude that individuals have to speak in ways that are, in one manner or another, blameworthy? Second, what is the moral latitude that audience members have to refuse to enable, interfere with, prevent, or punish blameworthy speech by others? And third, do the moral rights, duties, and permissions that determine the legitimacy of individual reactions to blameworthy speech also dictate the responses that are legitimately available to administrators of private universities?

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This event is open to anyone. No registration needed.

Pre-reading is desirable and strongly suggested, but not a requirement to attend.

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