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Should hate speech be illegal?
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Hate speech is a form of discrimination

Discrimination has been present in human history for years. Even now, racial, gender, and religious differences keep people from being treated like human beings. This is unacceptable in a world where differences make up every individual.

The Argument

Hate speech should be illegal because it it’s a form of discrimination. Discrimination is when a person is treated unfairly because of their identity.[1] Since hate speech is the extreme hatred towards a specific group of people because of their identity, it constitutes an infringement of individual human rights on the basis of their gender, sexuality, religion, or race.

Counter arguments

Discriminating against someone requires action that infringes on someone's rights as a person. Hate speech is just words - it doesn't physically harm anyone or take anything away from them.

Proponents

Premises

[P1] Hate speech is a form of discrimination because it treats people unfairly because of their race, gender, sexuality or religion. [P2] Since discrimination affects people's human rights, hate speech should be against the law.

Rejecting the premises

[Rejecting P1] Discrimination is an action to hurt someone’s livelihood, hate speech is just voicing an opinion.

References

  1. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/discrimination
This page was last edited on Friday, 14 Feb 2020 at 12:23 UTC

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