ABSTRACT
As far back as Hippocrates we have been advised to avoid harming other human beings. However, to what extent, if any, is harm an allowable byproduct of communication? As individuals, we probably consider harm to others high on our list of proscriptions; but a great deal hangs on our definition of harm. Do we harm a friend by not telling her the truth about her partner’s infidelity? Do we harm ourselves by overeating or drinking too much? Do we harm our children by allowing them to watch television? Do we harm our employers by taking sick leave when we’re not really sick? These, and a thousand other questions concerning potential harms, are not as easily answered as we might suppose. And when the harm is potentially great or affects the lives or attitudes of large numbers of people, the answers are even more difficult to obtain.
