How Freedom of Speech Created Peace, Justice, Strong Institutions

Freedom of Speech was a revolutionary idea when it was first proposed in the United States of America. Such a thing had never truly been protected by any governmental bodies. In the United States Constitution’s Bill of Rights, freedom of speech is at the heart of the basic human rights outlined in the document. Many different people have been able to express themselves, to express their likes, dislikes, and most cherished ideas. Of course, such freedom can often create a sort of chaos. John Stewart Mill, the author of On Liberty, once articulated the idea that even though we may have many different sources, some irrelevant, some dangerous, some good, or some bad, the ideas that survive are the best ones, sort of a natural selection. For example, no credible person today will say that leeching can cure diseases, that idea died when germ theory was accepted. According to some other philosophers, freedom of speech is part of the essence of being human. The essence of being human itself is based on having the basic freedoms of speech, association, thought, and conscience. These freedoms are vital to achieving our identity. According to such philosophers, any restriction of these freedoms could prove a deadly blow to one’s fundamental humanity. People want to be fully autonomous, and having these basic freedoms will make anyone a fully autonomous individual. Equality is based on autonomy. If everyone has an equal opportunity from holding these freedoms, then society will function well. Certain people like Jean Jacques Rousseau even went so far as to say that government itself is a fraud and that nationalism is a pointless theory. People are born in their true nature of freedom and bliss. Freedom of speech is the most important human right to protect for a peaceful and just future