FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION
- This is a preview of the essay.
To view the full text you must login!
On what grounds is the right to freedom of expression best defended?
How important freedom of expression as a basic and valuable characteristic of western society, cannot be underestimated. This is emphasised by John Stuart Mill in his book On Liberty:
" there ought to exist the fullest liberty of professing and discussing, as a matter of ethical conviction, any doctrine, however immoral it might be considered".
The French philosopher, Voltaire (1694-1778), indicates the importance of Freedom of expression even though people may not agree with the ideas being expressed:
"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to death your right to say it".
What we refer to as freedom of expression is compromised by a set of guarantees protected by the First Amendment such as freedom of speech, freedom of the press, of association, of assemblyetc. The term "freedom" is almost universally accepted as being morally "good", as opposed to oppression, imprisonment .i.e. prisoners of conscience, slavery or unfreedom- which are regarded as undesirable if not morally bad. While progress in the field of Freedom of Expression has been achieved in most parts of the world, serious and unacceptable violations are still being committed in a number of countries; censorship is still practiced and journalist continue to die...