An Argument for the Censorship of Hate Speech

Abstract

Here it will be argued that censoring the expression of what I will call hateful beliefs is justified. I will present the framework and position of John Stuart Mill on the freedom of expression, which posits that no censorship is justifiable, and then present an argument against Mill’s view. I will begin by discussing Mill’s utilitarianism, his concepts of the harm principle and the tyranny of the majority, and then explain his arguments for total freedom of expression. Afterwards, I will argue that Mill’s reasoning, while generally correct, does not apply in cases of hate speech. Following this, I will argue hate speech is gravely harmful, and so should be censored on the basis of Mill’s own stance on utilitarianism and the harm principle.