Freedom of Speech and Society: A Social Approach to Freedom of Expression

249 Pages·2012·0.9 MB·English

by  Harry Melkonian

Freedom of Speech
and Society

Freedom of Speech
and Society
A Social Approach to Freedom of Expression
Harry Melkonian
Copyright 2012 Cambria Press
All rights reserved.
Printed in the United States of America
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Melkonian, Harry.
Freedom of speech and society: a social approach
to freedom of expression / Harry Melkonian.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index
ISBN 978-1-60497-820-9 (alk. paper)
1. Freedom of speech—social aspects—United States. I. Title.
KF4772.M45 2012
323.44’30973—dc23
2012026267
In memory of my brothers, James and Jon

Table of Contents
List of Tables.................................................................. ix
Foreword....................................................................... xi
Preface......................................................................... xv
Acknowledgments........................................................... xxi
Introduction................................................................. xxiii
Chapter 1: The Nature of Speech and Freedom of Speech................ 1
Chapter 2: The Sociology of Freedom of Speech........................ 15
Chapter 3: The Continuing Relevance of Durkheim..................... 59
Chapter 4: The Origins of Civilisation.................................... 83
Chapter 5: Traditional, Philosophical, and Legal Views................. 97
Chapter 6: Sociology and Legal Philosophy.............................143
Chapter 7: Sociology as Legal Argument................................ 159
Conclusion: The Contribution of Sociological Theory to Free
Speech............................................................... 183
Bibliography................................................................. 191
Index......................................................................... 207

List of Tables
Table 1: Approximate number of criminal defamation appellate
decisions in the United States .................................... 69
Table 2: Continued decline of cases reported .............................70
Table 3: Civil defamation lawsuits filed in the Royal Courts of
Justice ............................................................... 76