Autonomy, free speech and automatic behaviour

Andrés Moles*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract (may include machine translation)

One of the strongest defences of free speech holds that autonomy requires the protection of speech. In this paper I examine five conditions that autonomy must satisfy. I survey recent research in social psychology regarding automatic behaviour, and a challenge to autonomy is articulated. I argue that a plausible strategy for neutralising some of the autonomy-threatening automatic responses consists in avoiding the exposure to the environmental features that trigger them. If this is so, we can good autonomy-based pro tanto reasons for controlling exposure to certain forms of speech.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)53-75
Number of pages23
JournalRes Publica
Volume13
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 2007
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Automatic behaviour
  • Autonomy
  • Critical reflection
  • Free speech
  • Mental contamination
  • Stereotype activation

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Autonomy, free speech and automatic behaviour'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this