In a series of landmark decisions since 1990, Canadian courts have shaped a distinctive approach to the regulation of obscenity, hate literature, and child pornography. Missing from the debate, however, has been any attempt to determine whether the legal status quo can be justified by reference to a framework of moral/political principles. The Hateful and the Obscene is intended to fill that gap.
L.W. Sumner brings philosophical depth and theoretical rigour to some of the most important and difficult questions concerning free expression. Building on a framework set out by J.S. Mill - that a legal restriction of expression is justified only when the expression in question is harmful to others and when the benefits of the restriction will exceed its costs - Sumner shows how the Canadian courts have replicated Mill's framework in their interpretation of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
The Hateful and the Obscene is a compelling interpretation of freedom of expression that combines serious philosophical thought with a focus on Canadian law, thus maintaining the breadth to deal with both obscenity and hate literature.
Authors
- Bibliography, etc. Note
- Includes bibliographical references (p. [251]-264) and index
- Control Number Identifier
- CaOOCEL
- Dewey Decimal Classification Number
- 342.7108/53
- Dewey Decimal Edition Number
- 22
- General Note
- Issued as part of the desLibris books collection
- Geographic Area Code
- n-cn---
- ISBN
- 0802080839 9781442681439
- LCCN
- KE4420
- LCCN Item number
- S93 2004eb
- Modifying agency
- CaBNVSL
- Original cataloging agency
- CaOONL
- Physical Description | Extent
- 1 electronic text (xi, 275 p.)
- Published in
- Canada
- Publisher or Distributor Number
- CaOOCEL
- Rights
- Access restricted to authorized users and institutions
- System Control Number
- (CaBNVSL)thg00600510 (OCoLC)666910923 (CaOOCEL)418614
- System Details Note
- Mode of access: World Wide Web
- Transcribing agency
- CaOONL
Table of Contents
- Contents 8
- Preface 10
- 1 A Theory of Free Expression? 16
- 1.1 An Anatomy of Rights 17
- 1.2 Concepts and Issues 22
- 1.3 Things to Come 28
- 2 Mill's Framework 31
- 2.1 The Harm Principle 33
- 2.2 Liberty of Thought and Discussion 37
- 2.3 The Lessons of Mill's Framework 43
- 2.4 Excluded Harms 48
- 2.5 Conclusion 63
- 3 The Balancing Act 65
- 3.1 When Rights Collide 66
- 3.2 Hate Promotion on Trial 70
- 3.3 Land of the Free 83
- 3.4 Conclusion 100
- 4 The Myth of Community Standards 101
- 4.1 The Evolution of an Idea 101
- 4.2 Which Community? Whose Standards? 114
- 4.3 The Tyranny of the Community 133
- 4.4 Conclusion 138
- 5 In Harm's Way? 139
- 5.1 Pornography and Sexual Violence 140
- 5.2 Pornography and Inequality 154
- 5.3 Defaming, Degrading, Subordinating, Silencing 159
- 5.4 Pornography and Children 168
- 5.5 Hate Speech and Hate Crimes 171
- 5.6 Conclusion 176
- 6 From Principle to Policy 178
- 6.1 Restraint by Other Means 179
- 6.2 What Matters 192
- 6.3 An Immodest Proposal 198
- 6.4 Conclusion 215
- Notes 218
- Cases Cited 260
- Works Cited 264
- Index 278
- A 278
- B 278
- C 279
- D 280
- E 280
- F 281
- G 281
- H 282
- I 282
- J 282
- K 283
- L 283
- M 283
- N 284
- O 284
- P 285
- R 285
- S 286
- T 287
- U 287
- V 287
- W 287
- Y 288
- Z 288
