Milton & Locke thought Catholics didn't deserve free speech. Mill thought "immature" (i.e. non whites & working class) didn't deserve free speech. So this is completely wrong on classical liberal position.https://twitter.com/JonathanMerritt/status/962446842062663681 …
-
-
Yes— but “hedged” isn’t the same as “they are simply excluded,” & what they’re excluded from, if anything, is political membership (i.e. citizenship and voting rights), not freedom of speech. The terms he uses, by the time he’s writing, meaningfully distinguish among Catholics.
-
Most English Catholics of 1688 are tolerable under his argument, though not James II.
- Show replies
New conversation -
-
-
Locke was a paid propagandist arguing against allowing Catholics to hold office in the UK (below the rank of King -- he had opposed that too in 1683 & lost). But one can have free speech & be excluded from public office. Full civil rights go beyond free speech.
Thanks. Twitter will use this to make your timeline better. UndoUndo
-
-
-
Is it not possible that Locke's writing was influenced by attitudes of his time? The Protestant/Catholic divide from the 1500's onward was some serious political shit. Over time liberals have applied their principles increasingly inclusively.
Thanks. Twitter will use this to make your timeline better. UndoUndo
-
Loading seems to be taking a while.
Twitter may be over capacity or experiencing a momentary hiccup. Try again or visit Twitter Status for more information.