A recognition-sensitive phenomenology of hate speech

Abstract

One particularly prominent strand of hate speech theory conceptualizes the harm in hate speech by considering the immediate illocutionary force of a hate speech 'act'. What appears to be missing from such a conception, however, is how recognition relations and normative expectations present in a speech situation influence the harm such speech causes to its victims. Utilizing a particular real-world example, this paper illustrates how these defining background conditions and intersubjective relations influence the harm of hate speech as it is experienced from the first-person perspective. This, more nuanced conception of harm, takes note of the effects such speech inflicts on an individual's recognitive status, and can provide a clearer understanding of the conditions necessary for an act of hate speech to cause the speaker's desired effect on their targets.

Propositional attitudes, harm and public hate speech situations: towards a maieutic approach

“…I agree with this observation, but I do not think that it affects my critical argument. When successful, public hate speech occurs in a general environment of intolerance in which both speakers and targets are components of an oppressive network that affects their public posture (Delgado and Lederer, 1995; McGowan, 2012; Maitra, 2012) as well as their propositional attitudes (Langton, 2012) and dynamics of mutual recognition (Whitten, 2018). But, within a racist and oppressive society, it remains difficult to demonstrate that one particular instance of public hate speech should take the blame for a broader structural phenomenon that is so pervasive as to influence the content of individual mental states, various social behaviours and expectations of both speakers and hearers.…”

Mapping Hate Speech on Social Media: Religion-State Relations in Indonesia

“…Hoaxes have a very close relationship with hate speech because hoaxes can trigger hate speech. Hate speech will have a dangerous impact (Whitten, 2020a) on individuals or groups, mainly if it is carried out and spread through social media, which has a broad reach to an unlimited audience.…”