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The Benson Center for the Study of Western Civilization at the University of Colorado Boulder presents a lecture by Daniel Jacobson on September 5, 2019, "Freedom of Speech and Harmful Speech: Lessons from Mill."  The debate over free speech centers on whether there are any opinions so harmful that it would be better not to tolerate them. John Stuart Mill defended the freedom to profess any opinion, however immoral or harmful--yet philosophers also attribute to him a harm principle, which makes action that harms others subject to social coercion. This tension mirrors the current political debate, and Mill's often misunderstood argument shows how best to defend individual liberty. The lecture starts at 5:30 PM in Eaton Humanities 250 

91��Ƭ�� the Series

The Benson Center promotes critical reflection on the distinctive traditions and political perspectives that characterize Western civilization. It encourages residents of Colorado and the United States to more fully understand and appreciate their past, their future and a free and creative American society within an international environment. This year’s Benson Center lecture series expands on the Benson Center’s 2019-20 theme, American Identities. For more information, please visit the website, /center/benson/.

91��Ƭ�� the Speaker

Daniel Jacobson is professor of philosophy at the University of Michigan. Jacobson works on a range of topics in ethics, moral psychology, aesthetics, and the moral and political philosophy of J. S. Mill. He has published extensively on issues concerning sentimentalism, the philosophy of emotion, and freedom of speech. Jacobson was Project Leader of The Science of Ethics, a three-year project funded by the John Templeton Foundation, and he originated the view that has become known as “immoralism" in the philosophy of art. His essay, “Utilitarianism without Consequentialism: The Case of John Stuart Mill” was chosen by The Philosophers’ Annual as one of the ten best philosophy articles published in 2008. Jacobson is a candidate for the Benson Center Endowed Chair position.