Forging of Freedom of Speech: Essays on Argumentation in Congressional Debates on the Bill of Rights and on the Sedition Act

Book Description
The Forging of Freedom of Speech offers a fascinating new perspective on early Congressional debates bearing on freedom of expression. The application of fallacy theory achieves an interdisciplinary perspective that is novel in the study of this formative period in American history.


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Rudanko (U. of Tampere, Finland) examines the linguistic history of freedom of speech as enshrined in the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. After a brief overview of political developments leading up to the passage of the Bill of Rights, issues of rhetorical questions as a mode of argumentation by the Federalists is examined. The nature of Federalist arguments for the Sedition Act of 1798 is explored in the context of fallacy theory. Taking a philosophical turn, views on freedom of speech held by G.W.F. Hegel and James Madison are compared in light of questions of the original intent of the Constitutional framers. Annotation ©2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR


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