Free speech a very short introductionexamines the liberal assumption that free speech is worth preserving at any cost and offers a guide to important questions facing modern society about the value and limits of free speech where should a civilized society draw the line should we be free to offend other peoples religion. In this accessible and up to date very short introduction nigel warburton covers a wide range of controversial free speech issues from holocaust denial and pornography to the status of modern copyright law the book offers a concise guide to many of the vexing issues concerning our right to speak freely including should a civilized society set limits on freedom of speech how can we balance free speech with the sensitivities of religious and minority groups how have digital technology . This very short introduction is a thought provoking accessible and up to date examination of the liberal assumption that free speech is worth preserving at any cost about the series the very. Everyone has an interest in being permitted to express themselves and having the opportunity to hear read and see the free expression of others free speech is regarded as essential in a democratic society free speech gives an overview of the history of the freedom to express opinions in modern democratic society and outlines some of the . This very short introduction covers some of those historical developments but most of the book is dedicated to the contemporary controversies that surround various interpretations and limitations of the freedom of speech in particular the book deals with the famous quote of oliver wendell holmes that freedom of speech does not entail falsely shouting fire in a crowded theatre and similar