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Freedom of Speech by Jari I. Niemi Key Concepts * Rights. Rights to free speech are usually considered to be in form of both liberty rights and claim rights. Liberty rights are rights that one asserts when there are no existing laws against the asserted rights. Thus, one could assert one's right to write a book because there are no legal restrictions against it. Claim rights, on the other hand, imply obligations in the person or entity the right is claimed against. Thus, if one claims the right to speak in a public park, then others have the corresponding obligation not to prevent one from speaking. * Truth. Mill has a procedural understanding of truth, such that the emergence of truth is more likely if certain kind of procedure is followed. Specifically, Mill argues that truth is more likely to emerge under conditions of debate and discussion. * Individuality. Mill does not offer a definition of "individuality" explicitly, but emphasizes the independence of one's thoughts. According to this understanding of "individuality," one is an individual only if one's thoughts are one's own, not received from others people or various different media such as radio, internet, or television. * Freedom: Positive and Negative: Negative freedom is defined as lack of interference. So, according to this, one is free to do something if one is not interfered with. Positive freedom, on the other hand, is defined as an ability to do something. According to this definition, one may not be free simply if one is not interfered with, since one might also need food and shelter, for example, to perform an action. So negative freedom is freedom from something while positive freedom is freedom to do something. * Instrumental vs. Intrinsic Value. Something is instrumentally valuable if it is valued for the sake of something else. So, one might value freedom of speech because it is valued for some other value, like individuality. Something is intrinsically valued if it is valued for its own sake. So, one might value individuality not for sake of something else but for its own sake. * Absolute vs. Relative Freedom of Speech. Absolute freedom states that one should always, in all situations be able to say or express oneself in whatever manner one wants. Relative freedom states that freedom of speech should be limited to certain situations or certain contexts. VOCABULARY * Argument: A set of statements, one or more of which intends to provide support for the other. * Premise: A statement, or statements, intending to provide support for the conclusion * Conclusion: A statement for which support is intended. * Speech. The definition of "speech" includes all non-verbal human expressions such as writing; bodily expressions such as dancing; producing music, television shows, movies; singing; internet blogging, etc. * Justification. Offering reasons for a conclusion * Fallibility. Liability to be mistaken. * Infallibility. Impossibility to be mistaken.

Freedom of Speech

by Jari I. Niemi

Key Concepts

* Rights. Rights to free speech are usually considered to be in form of both liberty rights and claim rights. Liberty rights are rights that one asserts when there are no existing laws against the asserted rights. Thus, one could assert one's right to write a book because there are no legal restrictions against it. Claim rights, on the other hand, imply obligations in the person or entity the right is claimed against. Thus, if one claims the right to speak in a public park, then others have the corresponding obligation not to prevent one from speaking.
* Truth. Mill has a procedural understanding of truth, such that the emergence of truth is more likely if certain kind of procedure is followed. Specifically, Mill argues that truth is more likely to emerge under conditions of debate and discussion.
* Individuality. Mill does not offer a definition of "individuality" explicitly, but emphasizes the independence of one's thoughts. According to this understanding of "individuality," one is an individual only if one's thoughts are one's own, not received from others people or various different media such as radio, internet, or television.
* Freedom: Positive and Negative: Negative freedom is defined as lack of interference. So, according to this, one is free to do something if one is not interfered with. Positive freedom, on the other hand, is defined as an ability to do something. According to this definition, one may not be free simply if one is not interfered with, since one might also need food and shelter, for example, to perform an action. So negative freedom is freedom from something while positive freedom is freedom to do something.
* Instrumental vs. Intrinsic Value. Something is instrumentally valuable if it is valued for the sake of something else. So, one might value freedom of speech because it is valued for some other value, like individuality. Something is intrinsically valued if it is valued for its own sake. So, one might value individuality not for sake of something else but for its own sake.
* Absolute vs. Relative Freedom of Speech. Absolute freedom states that one should always, in all situations be able to say or express oneself in whatever manner one wants. Relative freedom states that freedom of speech should be limited to certain situations or certain contexts.

VOCABULARY

* Argument: A set of statements, one or more of which intends to provide support for the other.
* Premise: A statement, or statements, intending to provide support for the conclusion
* Conclusion: A statement for which support is intended.
* Speech. The definition of "speech" includes all non-verbal human expressions such as writing; bodily expressions such as dancing; producing music, television shows, movies; singing; internet blogging, etc.
* Justification. Offering reasons for a conclusion
* Fallibility. Liability to be mistaken.
* Infallibility. Impossibility to be mistaken.