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Why We Should Fight for Freedom of Speech | Greg Lukianoff

Jun 24, 2024

Guest

Greg Lukianoff

Greg Lukianoff, President and CEO of the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE), passionately defends the importance of freedom of speech, especially in academic settings. He discusses how technological advancements have impacted free speech, from the printing press to the internet. Lukianoff delves into generational differences in understanding this right and the dangers of censorship. He emphasizes the need for a free speech culture to foster democracy and explores how cryptocurrencies may play a role in resisting censorship.

01:30:11

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INSIGHT

Current State of Free Speech

Free speech is declining, with 2023 being the worst year for deplatforming.
The current campus climate is a "big, weird, scary mess" due to shout downs and ideological clashes.

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INSIGHT

Generational Differences on Free Speech

Older generations generally support free speech more than younger ones, particularly Gen Z.
Younger generations often misunderstand free speech principles, assuming hate speech is unprotected.

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ADVICE

Advocating for Free Speech

When advocating for free speech, use relatable stories and data to persuade.
Explain its historical importance for progress, innovation, and self-expression.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

Defending Freedom of Speech and Expression

03:08 • 3min

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The Foundation of Free Speech

06:19 • 21min

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The Evolution of Free Speech

26:57 • 13min

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Innovations and Freedoms in DeFi and Speech

39:56 • 5min

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The Evolving Landscape of Free Speech

44:42 • 23min

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Navigating Free Speech in the Digital Age

01:08:04 • 18min

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Exploring the Intersection of Privacy and Freedom of Speech

01:25:50 • 4min

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In 'Free Speech: A History from Socrates to Social Media', Jacob Mchangama explores the complex and often contentious history of free speech, tracing its development from classical Athens to the digital age. The book highlights the crucial role of free speech in democracy and its impact on intellectual achievements and civil rights. Mchangama also examines the ongoing challenges to this principle in both democratic and authoritarian societies.

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The book explores how the ideas 'what doesn’t kill you makes you weaker,' 'always trust your feelings,' and 'life is a battle between good people and evil people' have become embedded in American culture. These 'Great Untruths' contradict basic psychological principles and ancient wisdom, leading to a culture of safetyism that interferes with young people’s social, emotional, and intellectual development. The authors investigate various social trends, including fearful parenting, the decline of unsupervised play, and the impact of social media, as well as changes on college campuses and the broader context of political polarization in America.

Free Speech, the People's Darling Privilege

Neal Devins

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This book delves into the evolution of free speech in the United States, focusing on key historical events such as the Sedition Act of 1798, abolitionist movements, and anti-war speech during the Civil War. It highlights how public opinion and individual actions have shaped the concept of free speech, often preceding judicial decisions. The work provides valuable insights into the development of First Amendment doctrine and its relevance to contemporary issues.

Why should we fight for Freedom of Speech?

That’s the question that Free Speech Lawyer and Writer Greg Lukianoff helps us answer today.

Using first principles, Greg goes deep into the importance of Freedom of Speech, “Free Speech Culture”, what happens to Free Speech when new technologies like the printing press and the internet are introduced, and how all this intersects with blockchains and crypto.

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------ TIMESTAMPS

0:00 Intro 6:19 Defining Free Speech 15:59 Free Speech Origins 19:43 The Printing Press 37:11 The Constitution 39:50 Free Speech Culture 47:48 What Protects Free Speech 55:57 Generational Differences 1:09:17 Censorship Societies 1:16:29 The Internet 1:21:04 AI & Free Speech 1:23:04 Web2 Censorship 1:27:17 Freedom to Transact 1:36:38 Privacy 1:38:30 How to Get Involved 1:40:49 Closing & Disclaimers

------ RESOURCES

Greg Lukianoff https://x.com/glukianoff

The Eternally Radical Idea Newsletter https://greglukianoff.substack.com/

FIRE https://www.thefire.org/

Support FIRE Today! https://www.thefire.org/donate

The Canceling of the American Mind https://www.amazon.com/Canceling-American-Mind-Undermines-Threatens-ebook/dp/B0BTZT9PLM/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&sr=8-1

Free Speech: A History from Socrates to Social Media https://www.amazon.com/Free-Speech-History-Socrates-Social/dp/1541600495/ref=sr_1_1?sr=8-1

Revolution in the Age of Social Media https://www.amazon.com/Revolution-Age-Social-Media-Insurrection-ebook/dp/B00GVZJWAM

Free Speech, The People's Darling Privilege https://www.amazon.com/Free-Speech-Peoples-Darling-Privilege/dp/0822325292

------ Not financial or tax advice. See our investment disclosures here: https://www.bankless.com/disclosures⁠

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