I know it when I see it
Encyclopedia
The phrase
"I know it when I see it" is a colloquial expression within the United States
by which a speaker attempts to categorize an observable fact or event, although the category is subjective or lacks clearly defined parameters. The phrase was famously used by United States Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart
to describe his threshold test for pornography in Jacobellis v. Ohio
(1964). Obscenity
is not protected speech
under the Miller test
, and can therefore be censored.
The expression became "one of the most famous phrases in the entire history" of the Supreme Court.
Stewart's "I know it when I see it" standard was praised as an example of "candor" and "realistic and gallant", though it has been criticized for its lack of concreteness.
Phrase
In everyday speech, a phrase may refer to any group of words. In linguistics, a phrase is a group of words which form a constituent and so function as a single unit in the syntax of a sentence. A phrase is lower on the grammatical hierarchy than a clause....
"I know it when I see it" is a colloquial expression within the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
by which a speaker attempts to categorize an observable fact or event, although the category is subjective or lacks clearly defined parameters. The phrase was famously used by United States Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart
Potter Stewart
Potter Stewart was an Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court. During his tenure, he made, among other areas, major contributions to criminal justice reform, civil rights, access to the courts, and Fourth Amendment jurisprudence.-Education:Stewart was born in Jackson, Michigan,...
to describe his threshold test for pornography in Jacobellis v. Ohio
Jacobellis v. Ohio
Jacobellis v. Ohio, , was a United States Supreme Court decision handed down in 1964 involving whether the state of Ohio could, consistent with the First Amendment, ban the showing of a French film called The Lovers which the state had deemed obscene.Nico Jacobellis, manager of the Heights Art...
(1964). Obscenity
Obscenity
An obscenity is any statement or act which strongly offends the prevalent morality of the time, is a profanity, or is otherwise taboo, indecent, abhorrent, or disgusting, or is especially inauspicious...
is not protected speech
Freedom of speech
Freedom of speech is the freedom to speak freely without censorship. The term freedom of expression is sometimes used synonymously, but includes any act of seeking, receiving and imparting information or ideas, regardless of the medium used...
under the Miller test
Miller test
The Miller test , is the United States Supreme Court's test for determining whether speech or expression can be labeled obscene, in which case it is not protected by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution and can be prohibited.-History and details:The Miller test was developed in the...
, and can therefore be censored.
The expression became "one of the most famous phrases in the entire history" of the Supreme Court.
Stewart's "I know it when I see it" standard was praised as an example of "candor" and "realistic and gallant", though it has been criticized for its lack of concreteness.