Censorship and Whistleblowing, Lesson 1
Lesson 1: Opening Debate
Focus: Can censorship ever be justified?
Suggested length: 1 hour
Learning objectives:
- Examine how censorship impacts the development of knowledge, including what is studied, published, and taught.
- Explore diverse perspectives on the ethics of censorship, focusing on power dynamics, societal impact, and individual rights.
| Critical Thinking Concepts | TOK Concepts | Reflection Questions |
|---|---|---|
| Confronting Biases and Assumptions: Recognize the assumption that “official” means “correct”. Exploring Contexts: Understand how values, norms, or local regulations shape perceptions of what knowledge should be shared or suppressed. Responsiveness and Flexibility of Thought: Weigh opposing viewpoints critically to determine whether, or how, a stance might change. | Ethics: What are the moral implications of suppressing or exposing knowledge? Power: How can censorship or whistleblowing reinforce or challenge power structures? Justification: How do governments and whistleblowers justify their actions? | Who decides what knowledge is censored? Is censorship always about power, or can it reflect genuine ethical concerns? How do societal values influence what is deemed acceptable or harmful? How does censorship impact individual freedoms versus collective safety? Can censorship ever be entirely unbiased? Why or why not? |
Resources and Preparation
- Slides, attached below.
- Log into Kialo and clone the linked discussion in the main activity to make a copy for your students.
- Use your preferred sharing method to share the cloned discussion with your students.
Introduction
Present the central question: “Can censorship ever be justified?”
Introduce the concepts of censorship (control of information) and whistleblowing (revealing sensitive knowledge).
Ask students to consider:
- Who decides what information is censored?
- Why might someone choose to blow the whistle?
Share examples like China’s Great Firewall or book bans in U.S. schools.
Share the Freedom House website as a general resource for students to review and go over the key terms and concepts.
Main Activity
Debate Setup
Clone and share the Kialo discussion: “Can censorship ever be justified?”
Give students time to examine the starter claims, based on the points below.
Pro-censorship:
- "Censorship protects societies from harmful ideas."
- Reason: Inflammatory or dangerous content (e.g., hate speech or calls to violence) can destabilize societies and put individuals at risk.
- "Censorship shields vulnerable groups from harmful content."
- Reason: Censoring graphic or distressing content can protect children and marginalized groups from psychological harm.
- "Censorship is justified during times of war."
- Reason: Restricting knowledge about military operations or sensitive strategies prevents the enemy from gaining an advantage.
- "For the sake of social harmony, controversial topics should be moderated."
- Reason: Limiting discussions on divisive topics (e.g., religion, race, or politics) can prevent unrest and foster a more peaceful society.
Anti-censorship:
- "Censorship is always a tool of oppression."
- Reason: It enables those in power to suppress dissenting voices and maintain control over marginalized communities.
- "One person’s harmful content is another’s freedom of expression."
- Reason: Cultural and individual differences mean what is censored in one society could be celebrated in another, making censorship inherently biased.
- "Knowledge is power, and controlling knowledge is controlling people."
- Reason: Censorship allows those in authority to manipulate narratives and prevent people from accessing the truth.
- "History shows us that censorship rarely succeeds in silencing dissent."
- Reason: Suppressing ideas often amplifies them, as dissenters find alternative ways to express themselves, sometimes more forcefully.
Debate
Students add their existing knowledge and ideas to the Kialo discussion, referencing examples like internet censorship in authoritarian regimes (e.g., China’s Great Firewall) or book bans in democratic societies (e.g., U.S. school districts).
Encourage students to make counterarguments by asking:
- Does censorship truly protect societies from harm, or does it suppress necessary discourse?
- Can censorship ever be unbiased, or does it always reflect the values of those in power?
Reflection Activity
Discuss the following reflection questions in open discussion or exit ticket format:
- Who decides what knowledge is censored?
- Is censorship always about power, or can it reflect genuine ethical concerns?
- How do societal values influence what is deemed acceptable or harmful?
- How does censorship impact individual freedoms versus collective safety?
- Can censorship ever be entirely unbiased? Why or why not?
