Encyclopedia of Opinion
Question
Should hate speech be illegal?
Position1 of 3›
Yes, hate speech should be illegal
Argument1 of 3›

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. 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.

Premises

[P1]Discrimination is treating a person unfairly because of their identity. [P2] Hate speech expresses extreme hatred toward a group because of their gender, sexuality, religion, or race. [P3] As such, hate speech infringes individual human rights on the basis of identity, making it a form of discrimination. [C] Therefore, because hate speech is a form of discrimination, it should be illegal.

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.

Rejecting the premises

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