Exploring the boundaries of the freedom of speech
Posted on 2 March 2010
In her lecture “Toleration, Self-Expression and Communication”, Baroness Onora O’Neill of Bengarve will consider whether toleration amounts to more than indifference to what others say.She will go on to suggest that speech is more than self expression, it is aimed at reaching and affecting others. In that context, toleration becomes more difficult and, she will argue, must have limits.
It is a great pleasure and honour to have Onora O’Neill speak
Professor Matt Matravers
Baroness O’Neill, Professor Emeritus of Philosophy at the University of Cambridge, is a former President of the British Academy and the first woman to hold the position. She gave the Reith Lectures on “Trust” in 2002 and was made a Life Peer in 1999.
The Memorial Address is organised by the Morrell Centre for Toleration which is based in the Department of Politics and supported by the C and J B Morrell Trust. Over the course of its 29-year history speakers have included Lord Richard Harries, Baroness Susan Greenfield, Lord Carey of Clifton and Sir Edward Heath.
Professor Matt Matravers, Director of the Morrell Centre for Toleration, said “It is a great pleasure and honour to have Onora O’Neill speak.
“Her work – both academic and public – has been at the forefront of debates about the duties we have to one another, the development and use of genetic research, and many other topics. We are very excited that she has accepted our invitation to talk about toleration.”
The Address, on Thursday 4 March, will start at 6.00pm in room P/X001 in the Department of Physics. Admission is free and open to all.
Notes to editors:
- Find out more about the Department of Politics and the Morrell Studies in Toleration programme at www.york.ac.uk/politics.
- The University hosts a series of public lectures covering a wide variety of subjects every year. A complete list is available at www.york.ac.uk/news-and-events/events/.
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