John Stuart Mill Citizenship
Free speech and Censorship
How important is free speech for a democratic society? Does John Stuart Mill make a good case for free speech? Under what condition, if any, might free speech be restricted according to John Stuart Mill and to Matthew Kieran? Argue for your answer, and illustrate with relevant cases and examples in Singapore.
Introduction
In most democratic countries, the freedom of saying what you like, of criticizing the authorities, and of discussing ideas without fear, is a basic importance. Within a sense of this matter, John Stuart Mill devoted most of his acclaimed portrayal in his book On Liberty (1985). This essay aims to outline the scope and limitations of free speech. Therefore, with reference to Mill’s ideas, the essay will explain why free speech is …show more content…
Furthermore, it will also argue when free speech needs to be restricted with Mill and Kieran’s arguments.
Free speech and Democracy Democracy is a system of government in which the opinions of the citizens of a nation is taken into account when determining public policy, the laws and actions of the state. In this system of government, all the citizens have an equal opportunity to express their opinion and they are supreme and sovereign who control the government. (Christiano, 2006; Palekar, n.d.).
Spagnoli (2009) considered democracy as “a power struggle”. The contributors in this struggle have to be allowed to take part in the political program with freedom to express themselves. This is why democracy requires free speech. Basically, free speech means “the ability to express opinions and ideas without impediments particularly the threat of being punished for doing do” (Cuizon, 2009). It is a universal right of each and every person and its value should never be underestimated. The contributors in the power struggle also
How important is free speech for a democratic society? Does John Stuart Mill make a good case for free speech? Under what condition, if any, might free speech be restricted according to John Stuart Mill and to Matthew Kieran? Argue for your answer, and illustrate with relevant cases and examples in Singapore.
Introduction
In most democratic countries, the freedom of saying what you like, of criticizing the authorities, and of discussing ideas without fear, is a basic importance. Within a sense of this matter, John Stuart Mill devoted most of his acclaimed portrayal in his book On Liberty (1985). This essay aims to outline the scope and limitations of free speech. Therefore, with reference to Mill’s ideas, the essay will explain why free speech is …show more content…
Furthermore, it will also argue when free speech needs to be restricted with Mill and Kieran’s arguments.
Free speech and Democracy Democracy is a system of government in which the opinions of the citizens of a nation is taken into account when determining public policy, the laws and actions of the state. In this system of government, all the citizens have an equal opportunity to express their opinion and they are supreme and sovereign who control the government. (Christiano, 2006; Palekar, n.d.).
Spagnoli (2009) considered democracy as “a power struggle”. The contributors in this struggle have to be allowed to take part in the political program with freedom to express themselves. This is why democracy requires free speech. Basically, free speech means “the ability to express opinions and ideas without impediments particularly the threat of being punished for doing do” (Cuizon, 2009). It is a universal right of each and every person and its value should never be underestimated. The contributors in the power struggle also