An ecological theory of free expression /

The thrust of this thought-provoking book is that freedom of expression, rather than being seen as an isolatable component of deliberative politics, should be contemplated as an interlocking feature of a sociopolitical system. Chartier (La Sierra Univ.), an American professor of law and business ethics, describes his theory as "ecological" for three reasons: free expression is directed at fostering social goods within a sociopolitical ecosystem of institutions, practices, and values; free expression is prioritized for its own value and also precisely because it has the capacity to foster those goods; the ecosystem that free expression serves is diverse, and serves to reinforce the desirability of multiple visions of the good life. Importantly, this is a theory of free expression that does not disregard the listener, or even prioritize the speaker over the listener. Instead, it is a proposed understanding of free speech that acknowledges the salience of speaker and audience. It is a complicated formulation, steeped in the traditions of moral political theory, but for readers who invest in the argument, the book is a provocative and rewarding experience. Summing Up: Recommended. Graduate students through faculty. --Steven B. Lichtman, Shippensburg University