Speech That Harms (Vera Speaking)
		Comment				MAIN PATH: John
			John			Malik

I think there is a problem here. The ethical approach that Dee and Fred are taking is founded on a system of individual rights. I think there is a place for individual rights in a moral system, but I still have concerns about what you are saying.

Your approach places an enormous value and emphasis on a particular class of individual moral rights; namely, liberty rights. And, within that class, it puts an enormous emphasis on one particular right, the right to speak freely. My concern is that people also have rights to certain kinds of equality. For example, I believe that people have a right to equal treatment regardless of race.

Your approach to speech ignores equality rights. You focus on one class of rights, and one particular right, to the exclusion of others. What I am suggesting is that we need to reconsider the balance between liberty rights and equality rights. It may be time to restrict speech somewhat in order to make up for ignoring equality rights in the past.

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