Free speech beats censorship every time
Priests, kings and queens, politicians and common bullies have been banning things since time began. It seems that humanity just can’t help it. Most of us occasionally insist angrily that “It should be banned!”. Very often our demands relate to the minutiae of daily life which we can all easily recognise. Simple but dangerous for the health of our civilisation.
We may delight in support from journalists, politicians, campaign groups, lawyers and academics. But they build careers on converting outrage, however unreasonable, into government action. The last thing which people in this industry want is to keep things in proportion. Are they supporting us – or are they using us for their own benefit?
Of course some of us may see this as ‘democracy in action’. Unfortunately we do ourselves a great disservice if we don’t recognise its negative consequences. When an emotional shouting match inflicts pain, those involved can put things right by admitting their mistakes and apologising. The same is not true once a demand to ban something has become law. No matter how faulty the evidence, no matter how exaggerated the first complaint, it is much less easy to amend the law to correct any unintended consequences.
Some such as murder, assault or theft – are obvious threats to the common good. Bans made in the name of religion may prohibit behaviour such as oaths or eating certain types of food. Their benefit for the common good is less obvious so they must not be imposed on non-believers.
If humans are to live together, each must learn to control urges which impact negatively on others. Parental guidance and a natural desire for social integration draw most of us in this direction without the need for legal coercion. However, our selfish desire to control our surroundings can soon overcome tolerance. Not for nothing did Aristotle refer to humans as uniquely political creatures.
We encounter particular difficulties when trying to ban words or even the ideas which they express.
Micro-management occurs when someone responsible for the work of others refuses to let them make even small decisions. Much the same situation nowadays arises increasingly often in civil society as governments seek to regulate everyday life.