A Marketplace of Ideas
There are 8 Speech Theories and one of them is a Marketplace of Ideas. This concept was introduced by John Milton. Milton lived from 1608-1674 in England and was considered an amazing author, poet, and historian. He was educated in religion and politics by tutors set up by his father. In addition, John Milton learned Latin, Greek, and Italian. Milton went on to college and earned 2 degrees and by the time he died he had published many works of poetry and writing. He would translate letters and writings from the Bible into Greek, English, and Latin, demonstrating extraordinary skill. One of Milton's most famous works is called "Areopagitica". The name, meaning "Hill of Ares", comes from "the site from which the high court of Athens administered its jurisdiction and imposed a general censorship." This piece of writing was defining the freedom of circulation of ideas and protecting human rights.
I feel like this theory is the most important because everything in life is about being honest and truthful. Each individual in a society should have the opportunity to speak their truth without fear of prosecution. Our human right to freedom of speech is so important because it allows us and encourages us to speak freely in society. Without the first amendment, news outlets and publications would not be able to write what they want, individuals would not be able to say their opinion, and I probably would not be allowed to write this blog. It is our right to have a marketplace where we can all creatively share our ideas, thoughts, and opinions. Milton was brave enough to publish this piece of work that clearly stated that stood up for "moral and intellectual development," at a time when no one really spoke out about these issues.
This is the most meaningful theory to me because it shows how important freedom of speech and the right to the truth is. Without honestly, our society could not be built on steady ground. We have to be grateful that we are allowed the freedom to speech because some countries and societies do not have that right. Milton took that step to defend the right to free circulation of ideas and it has gotten us extremely far today. He took risks and went against authority multiple times so that he could publish his works which we now praise. Milton argued that censorship was a violation of human rights because it infringed on freedom of speech and expression. This theory of the marketplace of ideas and being able to talk freely is so important because it allows us as individuals, a society, and a country to express our truth without fear. Especially in times like today, freedom of speech is power and we should use it to our advantage and speak for those who cannot.
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