8 values of free expression

 The 8 values of free expression are discovery of truth, participation in self-government, stable change, individual self- fulfillment, check on government power, promote tolerance, promote innovation, and protect dissent. These values assist the government to run more smoothly and efficiently. 

The first value of free expression is also known as the marketplace of ideas. It was first suggested by Milton, an English poet and a civil servant for the commonwealth of England. He said that wehn truth and falsehood are allowed to freely grapply, truth will win out. Milton also argued against requiring a license to print and publish anything. He said that in a society, different beliefs can freely compete with another in public without being censored by the government. 

Participation in self-government is the second value. This was proposed by Alexander Meiklejohn . He promoted free speech and its relation to self voernment, saying that citizens need to have some say in what the government decides to do. Without this value, the government would be solely making decisions by what they want to do and having so say from the outside.   

The third value is stable change, AKA safety value which was brought up by Benedict Spinoza. This theory states that angry and alienated citizens should be allowed to speak their minds which would cause people to not feel the need to resort to violence and anger. Allowing these people to speak their minds whenever they want allows the government to better monitor the dangers that these people carry. Spinoza is best known for his ethics and even brings God and nature into it. 

Individual self- fulfillment was introduced by Edwin Baker, a college professor. He says that free speech enables individuals to express themselves leading to them creating their own identities. I think that this is an extremly important value because that is something a lot of people struggle with. He thinks that freedom of speech becomes an aspect of human dignity, agency, and autonomy. 

Check on Government power by VInce Blasi is the fifth value. This value allows citizens to learn about the abuse of power and hopefully do something about it. He is encouraging citizens to do something about the abuse if they feel moved to. I like this value because I think it is very important for citizens to know not only about the positives but also the negatives of our own government.  

Promote Tolerance by Lee Bolliger is the sixth value. This is saying that hearing negative and hateful things helps you become a better person and become more tolerable to the hate that is unavoidable. Just like my mom tells me, bullies build character and make you into a better person. I think it is important for some people to hear some negative things about themselves to become a stronger and better person. 

The seventh value is to promote innovation. This value promotes citizens to propose their ideas to the government and become more proactive and creative. People expressing their ideas can help open up the eyes of the government to ideas that they have never considered and never would without the help of us. 

The final value is to protect dissent, by Steve Shiffrin. This value stresses the idea that we are protected enough to agree with the government. I have not met a single person who has agreed with every decision that the government has made and this value backs that up. It is important for citizens to voice their opinions and for the government to take them into account. It is strongly encouraged and our patriotic duty to criticize and disagree with our government.