Liberty and the Free Marketplace of Ideas
ABSTRACT
This colloquium explored the development of the modern concept of the First Amendment right of freedom of speech from the founding fathers’ idea as roughly defined by Blackstone’s Commentaries through the landmark dissenting opinion of Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. in Abrams vs. United States, 250 U.S. 616 (1919). The colloquium also analyzed the philosophical purposes that the “free marketplace of ideas” provides for an open democracy, and explored the limits and boundaries on freedom of speech (or what the court has termed “expression”).
READING LIST
Conference Readings
Frohnen, Bruce P., eds. The American Republic: Primary Sources. Indianapolis: Liberty Fund, Inc., 2002.
Mill, John Stuart. Utilitariansim, On Liberty, Considerations on Representative Government. Edited by Geraint Williams. Rutland, Vermont: Everyman Library, 1993.
Kurland, Philip B. and Ralph Lerner, eds. The Founders' Constitution, Volume 5: Amendments I-XII, Indianapolis: Liberty Fund, 2000.
Masses Publishing Co. v. Patten, 244 F. (D.C. NY 1917).
Schenck v. United States, 249 U.S. 47 (1919).
Abrams v. United States, 250 U.S. 616 (1919).
Dennis v. United States, 341 U.S. 494 (1950).
Brandenburg v. Ohio, 395 U.S. 444 (1969).
Ames, Fisher. "To Christopher Gore, Dec. 18, 1789" in Works of Fisher Ames, Volume 2. Edited by W. B. Allen. Compiled by Seth Ames. Indianapolis: Liberty Fund, 1983.
Brubaker, Stanley C., "Original Intent and Freedom of Speech and Press." in The Bill of Rights: Original Meaning and Current Understanding, Edited by Eugene W. Hickok, Jr., 82-93. Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia], 1991.
Gerard, Jules B., "May Society Preserve a Modicum of Decorum in Public Discourse?." in The Bill of Rights: Original Meaning and Current Understanding, Edited by Eugene W. Hickok, Jr., 94-113. Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia], 1991.
Hamburger, Philip A. "Natural Rights, Natural Law, and American Constitutions." The Yale Law Journal 102, no. 4 (January, 1993): 907-960.
Hamilton, Alexander, John Jay, and James Madison. The Federalist. Edited by George W. Carey and James McClellan. Indianapolis: Liberty Fund, Inc., 2001.
Jefferson, Thomas. The Works of Thomas Jefferson, Volume 5. Edited by Paul Leicester Ford. New York and London: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1904-5.http://oll.libertyfund.org/?option=com_staticxt&staticfile=show.php%3Ftitle=802&chapter=86707&layout=html&Itemid=27 (accessed Sept. 23, 2009).
Jefferson, Thomas. "Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, Mar. 15, 1789." Liberty Fund, Inc.. http://oll.libertyfund.org/title/802/86718 (September 22, 2009).
Mill, John Stuart. Utilitarianism, On Liberty, Considerations on Representative Government. Edited by Geraint Williams. Rutlan, Vermont: Everyman Library, 1993.
Stephen, J. Fitzjames. Liberty, Equality, Fraternity. Indianapolis: Liberty Fund, 1993.
Tocqueville, Alexis de. Democracy in America. Edited by Harvey C. Mansfield and Delba Winthrop. Translated by Harvey C. Mansfield and Delba Winthrop. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000.