Political correctness and freedom of expression
- Authors: Embling, Geoffrey
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Political correctness , Freedom of speech , Political correctness -- South Africa , Freedom of speech -- South Africa , Censorship , Censorship -- South Africa , South Africa -- Politics and government , Political satire, South African , Fanatacism , Toleration
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/40873 , vital:25035
- Description: A brief history of political correctness is discussed along with various definitions of it, ranging from political correctness being a benign attempt to prevent offense and avert discrimination to stronger views equating it with Communist censorship or branding it as "cultural Marxism". The aim of the research is to discover what political correctness is, how it relates to freedom of expression and what wider implications and effects it has on society. The moral foundations of rights and free speech in particular are introduced in order to set a framework to determine what authority people and governments have to censor others' expression. Different philosophical views on the limits of free speech are discussed, and arguments for and against hate speech are analysed and related to political correctness. The thesis looks at political correctness on university campuses, which involves speech codes, antidiscrimination legislation and changing the Western canon to a more multicultural syllabus. The recent South African university protests involving issues such as white privilege, university fees and rape are discussed and related to political correctness. The thesis examines the role of political correctness in the censorship of humour, it discusses the historical role of satire in challenging dogmatism and it looks at the psychology behind intolerance. Political correctness appeals to tolerance, which is sometimes elevated at the expense of truth. Truth and tolerance are therefore weighed up, along with their altered definitions in today's relativistic society. The last part of the thesis looks at South Africa's unique brand of political correctness, along with Black Economic Empowerment, colonialism and white guilt, and the research concludes that political correctness is a distinct form of censorship which has developed in modern democracies. The new forms of justice and morality seen in political correctness are distortions of left-wing liberalism, which appeal to different values to those of traditional liberalism.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Embling, Geoffrey
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Political correctness , Freedom of speech , Political correctness -- South Africa , Freedom of speech -- South Africa , Censorship , Censorship -- South Africa , South Africa -- Politics and government , Political satire, South African , Fanatacism , Toleration
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/40873 , vital:25035
- Description: A brief history of political correctness is discussed along with various definitions of it, ranging from political correctness being a benign attempt to prevent offense and avert discrimination to stronger views equating it with Communist censorship or branding it as "cultural Marxism". The aim of the research is to discover what political correctness is, how it relates to freedom of expression and what wider implications and effects it has on society. The moral foundations of rights and free speech in particular are introduced in order to set a framework to determine what authority people and governments have to censor others' expression. Different philosophical views on the limits of free speech are discussed, and arguments for and against hate speech are analysed and related to political correctness. The thesis looks at political correctness on university campuses, which involves speech codes, antidiscrimination legislation and changing the Western canon to a more multicultural syllabus. The recent South African university protests involving issues such as white privilege, university fees and rape are discussed and related to political correctness. The thesis examines the role of political correctness in the censorship of humour, it discusses the historical role of satire in challenging dogmatism and it looks at the psychology behind intolerance. Political correctness appeals to tolerance, which is sometimes elevated at the expense of truth. Truth and tolerance are therefore weighed up, along with their altered definitions in today's relativistic society. The last part of the thesis looks at South Africa's unique brand of political correctness, along with Black Economic Empowerment, colonialism and white guilt, and the research concludes that political correctness is a distinct form of censorship which has developed in modern democracies. The new forms of justice and morality seen in political correctness are distortions of left-wing liberalism, which appeal to different values to those of traditional liberalism.
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Tolerance as an ethical issue with special reference to South Africa
- Authors: Mnyaka, Mluleki Michael
- Date: 1998
- Subjects: Religious tolerance , Toleration , South Africa -- Constitution
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTh
- Identifier: vital:1312 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1020852
- Description: From Introduction: It was a feature of South African political life to have senseless and continued political violence especially in areas such as KwaZulu Natal and Gauteng., There were certain places that were demarcated as "no-go areas" in other parts of the country for political rivals* This research has been directed by the cries of many South Africans pleading for political tolerance. Tolerance was a term used by both politicians and ordinary people alike and therefore open to misuse and various interpretations. As a term it was therefore without adequate clarification on its meaning. It is an attempt of this study to clarify and promote this value of tolerance. In Chapter One, the value of tolerance is examined. It is described as putting up with what is disliked or disapproved for the sake of others. But it is deliberate and is therefore a virtue. Positive attitudes, motives and power are central to tolerance. For tolerance to be sustained, solid foundations such as education, respect for others and their freedoms, democracy, justice, stability and reciprocity are to be laid. A light is also being shed on the limits of this virtue. Considerations and circumstances which need to be taken when deciding on each an action are the very motives and conditions for tolerance. This further makes the issue of tolerance to be complex. Church history shows that tolerance does not come naturally. It is a difficulty because of certain principles that are at stake. When viewed from the twentieth century perspective many of Church history's periods were of intolerance because the church had power. Tolerance was an exception, a plea of those without power. South Africa has to unlearn much of intolerance because of the past that militated against tolerance. Fortunately tolerance is now being firmly entrenched as law. Even though it is so, the tension of being tolerant and intolerant still exists especially in the whole area of abortion. Let us examine why tolerance is such a complex issue and a virtue to be promoted.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Mnyaka, Mluleki Michael
- Date: 1998
- Subjects: Religious tolerance , Toleration , South Africa -- Constitution
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTh
- Identifier: vital:1312 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1020852
- Description: From Introduction: It was a feature of South African political life to have senseless and continued political violence especially in areas such as KwaZulu Natal and Gauteng., There were certain places that were demarcated as "no-go areas" in other parts of the country for political rivals* This research has been directed by the cries of many South Africans pleading for political tolerance. Tolerance was a term used by both politicians and ordinary people alike and therefore open to misuse and various interpretations. As a term it was therefore without adequate clarification on its meaning. It is an attempt of this study to clarify and promote this value of tolerance. In Chapter One, the value of tolerance is examined. It is described as putting up with what is disliked or disapproved for the sake of others. But it is deliberate and is therefore a virtue. Positive attitudes, motives and power are central to tolerance. For tolerance to be sustained, solid foundations such as education, respect for others and their freedoms, democracy, justice, stability and reciprocity are to be laid. A light is also being shed on the limits of this virtue. Considerations and circumstances which need to be taken when deciding on each an action are the very motives and conditions for tolerance. This further makes the issue of tolerance to be complex. Church history shows that tolerance does not come naturally. It is a difficulty because of certain principles that are at stake. When viewed from the twentieth century perspective many of Church history's periods were of intolerance because the church had power. Tolerance was an exception, a plea of those without power. South Africa has to unlearn much of intolerance because of the past that militated against tolerance. Fortunately tolerance is now being firmly entrenched as law. Even though it is so, the tension of being tolerant and intolerant still exists especially in the whole area of abortion. Let us examine why tolerance is such a complex issue and a virtue to be promoted.
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