Explain the concept of public offence typically used in characterizing expressions (and acts) which are permissible in private but prohibited or restricted in public.
Illustrate with examples. Is the concept, which is accepted by Mill as a legitimate concern of the law, compatible with his own harm principle?
Among the issues that may be considered here:
• How is 'offence' to be defined? Can 'harm' and 'offence' be distinguished? What makes something 'offensive' and does that make it liable to restriction/prohibition?
• How problematic is the idea of 'the' public in this context? Can we really draw a distinction between 'public and 'private'?
Words: 1000