Overview of Chapter 1: Classic Justifications for Free Speech
Classic justifications for free speech are five in number: (1) discovering truth (the famous “marketplace of ideas”), (2) facilitating participation in a democracy, (3) assuring individual self-fulfillment, (4) creating a more adaptable and stable community (the “safety valve”), and (5) promoting tolerance.
We describe and explore each, using excerpts from classic writings and running examples. The examples, in particular, are essential for two reasons. First, they help students resist the temptation to indulge in platitudes, by situating the famous formulations in real conflict. Second, however classic these justifications, each has its share of weaknesses—including whether it even applies to a world of mass and rapid communication unanticipated by its chief proponent. Examining the strengths and weaknesses has, in our experience, led to lively class discussions.