What does "free speech" actually mean? Does it mean the freedom to say anything, or only things that society finds acceptable? Should speech be restricted when it causes harm, spreads misinformation or offends others? And who gets to decide where that line should be? As Western societies become increasingly polarised, debates around free expression have moved from universities and courtrooms into workplaces, social media, comedy, journalism and everyday conversation. Many people now argue that we are simultaneously living in an era of unprecedented freedom of expression and unprecedented pressure to self-censor.

Join Leon, a psychologist with a deep interest in social behaviour and public discourse, for a thoughtful discussion exploring one of the defining issues of modern democracy. Together we'll examine the philosophy behind free speech, why societies have protected it for centuries, where its limits should lie, and how culture, technology and social media have transformed the way we express disagreement. We'll also compare different approaches across countries and ask whether Western societies are becoming more open to diverse opinions or less tolerant of them. Whether you believe free speech should be nearly absolute or balanced against other social values, this discussion will challenge assumptions and encourage a deeper understanding of one of the most important freedoms in modern society.

“言论自由”到底是什么意思？是说想说什么就能说什么，还是只能说社会能接受的那些？当言论造成伤害、传播错误信息或者冒犯别人的时候，应不应该被限制？那这条线又该由谁来画？随着西方社会越来越两极分化，关于自由表达的争论已经从大学和法庭蔓延到了职场、社交媒体、喜剧、新闻和日常对话里。很多人觉得，我们现在既活在一个表达极其自由的时代，也活在一个自我审查压力巨大的时代。

这次我们请来了Leon，一位对社会行为和公共讨论特别感兴趣的心理学家，来带大家好好聊一聊这个现代民主里的关键议题。我们会一起聊聊言论自由背后的哲学，为什么社会几百年来都在保护它，它的边界应该设在哪里，以及文化、科技和社交媒体怎么改变了我们表达不同意见的方式。我们也会比较不同国家的做法，聊聊西方社会到底是在变得更包容多元观点，还是变得更不 tolerant。不管你觉得言论自由应该几乎无条件，还是需要跟其他社会价值做平衡，这场讨论都会让你重新审视自己的一些假设，也对现代社会里这项重要的自由有更深的理解。