What is free speech? How is it under threat? And why should it be defended at all costs? In this succinct and insightful book, author Jamie Whyte contends that free speech brings fundamental benefits to society - it promotes the growth of knowledge and provides an essential bulwark against tyranny. He argues against new attempts to constrain free speech - particularly in social media - and critiques the rationale of politicians and activists who seek to limit it. And he proposes a key test - a limiting principle - which legislators and judges should apply against any proposed curtailment of free speech. Being offensive, for example, wouldn't pass this test - because important new ideas are often offensive to people whose worldview they challenge. Whyte also issues a rallying cry: Those who prize free speech must once again come to its defence - as he outlines exactly Why Free Speech Matters.

About the Author
Jamie Whyte writes about economics and philosophy, especially as they relate to public policy. Until 2019 he was Research Director at the Institute of Economic Affairs. In 2014 he was leader of the ACT Party of New Zealand, a position he resigned upon failing to be elected to parliament. He has previously worked as a management consultant for Oliver Wyman and as a philosophy lecturer at Cambridge University. Jamie is the author of Quack Policy (2013), Free Thoughts (2012), A Load of Blair (2005) and Crimes Against Logic (2004). He has published more than 200 opinion columns in newspapers including The Wall Street Journal, The Financial Times and The Times. He won the Bastiat Prize for Economic Journalism in 2006 and was runner-up in 2010 and 2016.


Book Information
ISBN 9780255368063
Author Jamie Whyte
Format Paperback
Page Count 80
Imprint Institute of Economic Affairs
Publisher Institute of Economic Affairs