Kindly Inquisitors: The New Attacks on Free Thought

In this elegant but narrow essay, Rauch ( The Outnation: A Search for the Soul of Japan ) argues forcefully against those--including fundamentalists, egalitarians and humanitarians--whose attempts to censor speech will lead, he fears, to intellectual authoritarianism. Rauch investigates the development of the culture of critical, liberal inquiry in which strong opinions are pitted against each other. He criticizes ``epistemological pacifists'' who ``think you can keep knowledge and get rid of pain,'' and deftly dissects convoluted ``hate speech'' regulations. But Rauch, unlike some First Amendment theorists, does not suggest ways to foster a culture richer in speech and inquiry; his long-term view--``good criticism drives out bad''--may not carry much weight with those who feel censorship has a role in fighting pressing societal inequities. (Apr.)