The next AMINTAPHIL conference will be held at Villanova University, outside of Philadelphia, from September 25 - 28, 2008.  The topic is "Free Speech in a Diverse World."

Conference Registration Form .doc

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$100.00 - 2008 Registration including banquet

$50.00 - Additional guest for banquet

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***HOTEL AND OTHER LOCAL ARRANGEMENTS listed below

Free Speech in a Diverse World

Topic Outline

• The value of free expression (in a diverse world)
• Liberal view
• Individual self-fulfillment
• Value to audience
• Marketplace of ideas
• Mill’s argument
• Does pluralism conflict with the idea of one emergent truth?
• Communitarian view
• Teleological value?
• Comparative value of free expression
• As it conflicts with, e.g., peace, prosperity (when resources used to guarantee safety of Nazi marchers), harmony, civility, promotion of tolerance
• Value of diversity (as it relates to freedom of expression)
• Which forms of diversity are valuable and why?
• political
• cultural and artistic
• commercial interests
• Diversity as a reason for promoting free expression
• Pornography
• as affirming sexual diversity
• sexual minorities: gay, lesbian, polyamorous, BDSM
• as providing catharsis for undesirable sexual urges
• Rap music
• voice of disenfranchised
• Political expression
• Constructive critique of policies
• Fomenting needed rebellion
• Critique of “political correctness”
• Firing of radio personalities (eg Don Imus)

• Diversity as a reason for limiting free expression
• Hate speech
• individually directed (“assaultive speech” per Lawrence)
• public, e.g., lecture promoting racist ideas
• Pornography
• as denigrating women
• true of all/some/none?
• as promoting sex crimes (rape, pedophilia)
• Silencing effects on disempowered groups
• Group defamation
• Rap music
• misogynistic
• promotes violence
• Religious offensiveness
• Danish cartoons
• Teddy bear named Mohammed
• Salman Rushdie
• Pisschrist
• Political expression
• Destructive critiques: flag burning, Farrakhan, Hitler, Holocaust denial
• Promoting intolerance; spreading falsehood (Rwanda)

• Role of government in limiting (or guaranteeing) expressive rights
• Can forms of expression (e.g., expletives) be limited without limiting content?
• Limits of government right to limit speech to preserve itself (sedition, incitement to riot, incitement to revolutionary action)
• Toleration of intolerant expression
• Language restrictions: “English-only” or requirements to provide multiple translations
• Individual responsibility: ethics of expression
• Duties of individuals (that may exceed government-imposed limits):
• Duty of civility
• Duty of truthfulness
• Duty of respect to other cultures
• Access to means of expression
• If it’s important to consider all points of view, should we guarantee that all points of view get, e.g., equal airtime?
• Should media make more of an effort to give fair and even presentation of other side of international disputes?
• To what extent does the advent of the Internet tend to equalize access to public audiences? Can websites compete with network news? What about the technology gap? To what extent does the enhanced ability it provides to filter viewpoints further entrench existing attitudes?
• Public reason
• What limits on free speech  are compatible with public reason in a diverse society?

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2008 AMINTAPHIL CONFERENCE

Villanova University  

HOTEL AND OTHER LOCAL ARRANGEMENTS

Sally Scholz of Villanova University is in charge of local arrangements for the conference. Here is the basic information she has provided about hotel, meeting venue, travel, etc. If you wish to get in touch with Sally directly, her email address is sally.scholz@villanova.edu. 

1. HOTEL
A block of rooms has been reserved at The Radnor Hotel. Please make reservations directly with the hotel. The group rate is $159.00 per night for a single and $169 per night for a double occupancy. When making reservations, please refer to “AMINTAPHIL at Villanova.” The reservations department is available from 8 am to 8 pm (EST) at 610-688-5800 or toll-free at 800-537-3000. The hotel address and website are as follows:

The Radnor Hotel
591 East Lancaster Avenue
St. Davids, PA 19087
1-800-537-3000 Toll Free
610-688-5800 Front Desk
http://radnorhotel.com/

This block of rooms is being held only until August 29, 2008. Please make reservations before that date.

Driving directions to hotel can be found at http://radnorhotel.com/directions.htm

There may be some who would like to find a less expensive hotel in the area. Here is a web-site for other hotels, with distances: http://www.villanova.edu/studentlife/specprograms/parents/visit/hotels.htm .

Feel free to see what you can find.

2. MEETING LOCATION
Conference roundtable sessions will be held in the West Lounge of Doughtery Hall in the heart of Villanova’s campus. Dougherty Hall also houses four eating venues: “The Pit”--an “all you care-to-eat” dining hall, the “Italian Kitchen,” “The Grill” for burgers and fries, and a faculty dining room. Hours of operation vary. In adjacent buildings, additional eating options abound, including “Holy Grounds” where one can satisfy any caffiene need.

3. TRAVEL FROM AIRPORT TO HOTEL
Here are links for travel to and from Villanova University, including maps:

http://www.villanova.edu/studentlife/specprograms/parents/visit/travel.htm

http://www.villanova.edu/enroll/admission/visit/maps/index.htm

The information on these sites include instructions for arranging a shuttle from the Philadelphia airport to the hotel or campus. Rental car companies are also readily available at the airport.

By far the cheapest way to travel from the airport to the hotel or campus is by regional rail. As of this writing, the train from the airport to Villanova is $10. Each terminal in the airport has a train station. You can buy the tickets on the train but there may also be machines at the stations in the terminal. Take the train to downtown Philadelphia, 30th Street Station. Once there, get off the R1 Airport and board the R5Paoli/Thorndale train which stops at Villanova (if you arrive during rush hour, please note that some “express” trains skip the Villanova station). Signs from the station will direct you to the conference location in Doughtery Hall. If you wish to take the train to the hotel, simply stay on for one more stop. The hotel is a ½ mile walk from the Radnor train station. Schedules for trains are available on line at

http://www.septa.com/service/rr_schedules.htm

If you wish to travel by taxi, Bennett Taxi Service (610) 525-0513 from the airport to Villanova is approximately $68 plus driver’s tip one way.

4. TRAVEL BETWEEN HOTEL AND CONFERENCE SITE
A shuttle will be provided in the mornings and evenings to facilitate travel between the hotel and campus (and possibly lunches). The shuttle will be free to conference attendees and their guests. If you want to incorporate some walks into your travel, the train is always an option as well. Although the hotel is only about 1 mile from campus, there is no pedestrian friendly route.

5. BANQUET :
The banquet will be held in Picotte Hall at Dundale, a beautiful old mansion on campus (http://www.villanova.edu/advance/develop/aboutus/dundale/).

6. REGISTRATION FEES
The registration fee is has not been officially set, but it is likely to be $100, including the banquet. You will have the option of paying for the meeting but not for the banquet. Please do not pay yet. Final fee information will be announced in the next newsletter

7. BASEBALL
The Philadelphia Phillies are playing at home on September 26 and 27 in the evening and September 28 in the afternoon. This may be of interest to AMINTAPHIL members who are baseball fans but live in major league deprived cities! Further information can be found at http://philadelphia.phillies.mlb.com/schedule/index.jsp?c_id=phi&m=9&y=2008