Obscenity and Film Censorship
An Abridgement of the Williams Report

This book is an influential study of obscenity and film censorship centred on an application of Mill's 'harm principle'.

Bernard Williams (Edited by)

9781107534407, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 8 October 2015

234 pages, 5 b/w illus. 2 tables
22.8 x 15.2 x 1.3 cm, 0.35 kg

When it first appeared in 1979, the Williams Report on Obscenity and Film Censorship provoked strong reactions. The practical issues and political principles examined are of continuing interest and remain a crucial point of reference for discussions on obscenity and censorship. Presented in a fresh series livery for the twenty-first century, and with a specially commissioned preface written by Onora O'Neill, illuminating its continuing importance and relevance to philosophical enquiry, this abridged edition of Bernard Williams's Report presents all the main findings and arguments of the full report, central to which is the application of Mill's 'harm principle' and the conclusion that restrictions are out of place where no harm can be reasonably thought to be done.

Preface to this edition Onora O'Neill
Preface
Part I. Background: 1. The Committee's task
2. The present law
3. The censorship of films
4. The situation
Part II. Principles: 5. Law, morality and the freedom of expression
6. Harms?
7. Offensiveness
8. Pornography, obscenity and art
Part III. Proposals: 9. The restriction of publications
10. The prohibition of publications
11. Live entertainment
12. Films
13. Summary of our proposals.

Subject Areas: Jurisprudence & philosophy of law [LAB], Law [L], Social & political philosophy [HPS]