2007-01-20 04:35:54 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
Freedom of Speech is more than compatible: its absolutely essential.
All the represive regimes in the world, EVER, have always attacked freedom of speech. Not just attacked it but the control, or attempted control, of ideas was a key part in the way they gained and maintained control. Nazis burned books. Bolsheviks banned literature. Islamacist regimes restrict religious evangelising (and allow violent reactions to publications of cartoons).
They are so restrictive because it is the ideas and flow of ideas that will bring them down. Frank discussion exposes the lies that these ideologies rest on. The best way to combat these horrible ideas is to argue against them and show them to be the horrible ideas that they are. I would go further than George Orwell but the words he put in Winston Smith's mouth in 1984 are pretty good:
"Freedom is the freedom to say 2 + 2 = 4, from that everything follows"
2007-01-20 06:41:23 · answer #1 · answered by anthonypaullloyd 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
freedom is not free it cost a very high price freedom of speech is a myth
2007-01-20 04:45:13 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Of course. SImply lay out a more cogent argument.
2007-01-20 04:46:44 · answer #3 · answered by christopherscott3 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Jean-Paul Sartre said "antisemitism is not an opinion". I think this answers your question.
2007-01-20 06:11:34 · answer #4 · answered by jacquesh2001 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes. As Voltaire said, "I may not agree with what you say but I would defend your right to say it unto death."
2007-01-20 13:05:33 · answer #5 · answered by Sophist 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋