Freedom of Speech

Paper Summary:

Freedom of expression is one of the crucial ideas, if not the crucial idea, behind modern concepts of liberty and democracy. This paper discusses the issues surrounding the limitations on free speech with reference to John Stuart Mill, John Rawls, Thomas Hobbes and other philosophers.

From the Paper:

"This issue of whether and to what extent to curtail free speech has a clear role in that most historical significant of liberal documents, the American constitution. Its first amendment prevents the executive or Congress from passing legislation which curtails freedom of expression, freedom of the press or the right to openly petition the government for any grievance. The United States, does, of course have a slightly contrary relationship with freedom; for all its commitment to "life, liberty and happiness" it took until the 1960s to get rid of institutionalised racism, and it still lags behind Europe in its attitudes on gay marriage and abortion. However, of most relevance to this essay is the Patriot act of 2001, which sought to use the power of the state to curtail unnecessary liberties which created fertile ground for terrorism."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Hobbes, T (1968) Leviathan, London: Harmondsworth
• Mill, JS, On Liberty (1864) London : Longman, Green, Longman, Roberts, & Green
• Rawls, J (1996) A theory of justice: Oxford, OUP
• Scargill, A (1983) Speech to the Durham NUM
• Thucydides (1905) the history of the Peloponnesian War London & New York

More papers on Freedom of Speech:

• Analytical Essay # 49160 : "Freedom of Speech"
• Research Paper # 122279 : "Constitution and Freedom of Speech Issues"
• Analytical Essay # 121427 : "Tyler Harper and Freedom of Speech"
• Essay # 4170 : "Hate Speeches: The Right to Freedom of Speech"

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