Deeper Foundations? (Ann Speaking)
		Comment		Source		MAIN PATH: Dee
						Malik	Dee

Good question. And the answer, I think, is "yes."

We have to tie the freedom of expression to our basic political philosophies and our basic ethical theories. I consider myself a "rule utilitarian" in ethics. In a nutshell, that means that I think that what people ought to do is determined by the rules which, if followed, would maximize human welfare. And I should add that every individual's welfare is assumed to be as important as anyone else's welfare. I think that helps to address some of Vera's concerns about women being ignored and left out when rules or policies are adopted.

It's true that freedom of expression is a good thing in part because it facilitates the search for truth and helps democracy to function, but both of those things can be tied to a more general (and therefore more basic) ethical imperative: to maximize welfare.

The more basic justification for free expression is that it helps us to maximize welfare for all.

Reference: The classic statements of utilitarianism as an ethical doctrine are Jeremy Bentham's Principles of Morals and Legislation and John Stuart Mill's Utilitarianism. More modern versions can be found in Contemporary Utilitarianism edited by Michael Bayles.

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