Philosophy Talk. Forbidden Words

Abstract/Contents

Abstract

Some words, like n****r, ch*nk, and c*nt, are so forbidden that we won't even spell them out here. Decent people simply don't use these words to refer to others; they are intrinsically disrespectful. But aren't words just strings of sounds or letters? Words have life because they express ideas. But in a free society, how can we prohibit the expression of ideas? How can we forbid words? Where does the strange power of curses, epithets, and scatological terms come from? John and Ken avoid mincing words with Chris Hom from Texas Tech University, author of_Hating and Necessity: The Semantics of Racial Epithets (forthcoming). This program was recorded live at the Marsh Theater in Berkeley, California.

Description

Type of resource	sound recording-nonmusical
Form	podcasts
Extent	1 audio file
Place	The Marsh (San Francisco, Calif.)
Date created	October 21, 2012
Language	English
Digital origin	born digital
Track configuration	Stereo

Creators/Contributors

Speaker	Perry, John, 1943-
Speaker	Taylor, Kenneth Allen, 1954-2019
Producer	Ben Manilla Productions, Inc.

Subjects

Subject	Swearing
Subject	Freedom of speech
Genre	Radio talk shows

Bibliographic information

philosophytalk.org show page	Title Forbidden Words
Finding Aid	Title Philosophy Talk (SC1118)
Show#	297.0
Location	https://purl.stanford.edu/wb099rf1497
Location	SC1118
Repository	Stanford University. Libraries. Department of Special Collections and University Archives

Access conditions

Use and reproduction

These files may not be reproduced or used for any purpose without permission. For permission requests, please contact Philosophy Talk (http://philosophytalk.org/contact).

Copyright

Copyright © The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University. All rights reserved.

Collection

Philosophy Talk, 2002-

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