摘要：I am flattered that Carolyn Marvin gave Courting the Abyss (CA) such extended attention. Her
call for a social history of civil liberties is excellent, as is her stirring defense of the liberal legal framework
in the 20th century United States. She productively corrects some oversights in the book, and suggests an
outline for a story it didn¡¯t try to tell, the rise of a robust but imperfect legal framework in 20th century
America that supports diverse expression. Most original of all, I think, is her expansive reading of the
liberal tradition as implying a logic of bodily sacrifice . a very suggestive counterpoint to the book¡¯s more
traditional take on liberal self-transcendence. I hope she will yet deliver an extended treatment of her
own vision of free speech. It would be a major contribution.
