A case for freedom of speech
Freedom of speech is one of the core values of western society. Throughout most of history, it was suppressed in one way or another until, through the gradual progress of our factual and ethical knowledge, we realized that it is one of the fundamental characteristics of a functional society. Its importance, which will be analyzed henceforth, is twofold; as a mechanism for moving closer to the truth [1] and as a value (i.e., a basic human right). [1] Truth will be examined in a practical sense under the Correspondence theory of truth ; i.e., a statement/opinion is true if its content corresponds with reality. Absolute truth is, therefore, a truth that completely and unquestionably corresponds to reality. Karl Popper, one of the leading philosophers of science, formulated the definition of a scientific theory (as opposed to pseudoscientific) as we know it today; he argued that in order for a theory to be scientific , it must be formulated in a way which al...
