- What is the societal value of a concept like free expression? Is it a purely public or more personal value?
Freedom of expression is a foundational, personal principle we hold which reinforces the societal value this concept possesses in democratic states. The ancient Athenian concepts directly correlating to freedom of expression, parrhesia and isegoria, explain this multi-faceted approach in how we view and utilize this freedom in our everyday lives. Parrhesia, in essence, is a virtue that provides one a license to engage in expressing him or herself freely, encouraging truth and openness, especially when there is a risk involved (Foucault, 1983.) These are all personal traits that portrays one’s commitment to the courage of expressing truth. From a societal standpoint, these traits are conducive to living in a prospering society, either from day-to-day interpersonal relationships, or from a more political viewpoint.
- How does free expression contribute to identity, whether that is public or personal identity?
Free expression plays a crucial role in one’s own identity because, in essence, our identity is largely compromised of what we express and how we do so. When discussing the complexities of identity, it’s important to note the relationship between personal identity (how we view our sense of self) and social identity (how society perceives and puts labeling expectations upon someone). Personal values, qualities, and beliefs such as religion, political affiliation, and sexual orientation for example are all identifying qualities within oneself that contribute toward how we perceive things and express ourselves socially (Facing History & Ourselves, 2021.) Once we realize these labels associated with who identity along with the expectations society attributes to them, we have the choice between conforming to or challenging them through our free expression.
- Is free expression worth protecting?
I believe freedom of expression is a necessity in any democracy that values the free exchange of ideas. Having grown up alongside the relatively early day of the internet, the prospects of free expression that I have seen throughout the evolution of this new online front has sparked both excitement and worrying concerns regarding how we engage with each other via online social platforms. The intrigue social media platforms have over traditional media with means of expressing oneself is the ability to reach a much larger audience. Part of the beauty of parrhesia is that it allows for the license to say whatever one wants, with a prioritization of truth, even if it may be deemed controversial or unpopular amongst society. The issue becomes how we as a society confront this when someone uses their freedom of expression to hurt someone or suppress someone else’s free expression. Some platforms and social institutions have instituted censorship, or the restriction of one’s speech, to combat this issue. This however seems rather antithetical to the entire notion of freedom of expression. Instead, I believe the best way to combat malicious free expression is to invest in more educational infrastructure involving media literacy, and place an emphasis on protecting one’s own privacy and making attempts to shrink their digital footprint as to not give ammo to online trolls. Isegoria, or the equal right for everyone to have a voice in their democracy, is another compelling argument that makes free expression worth protecting. Being able to have a say politically in a democracy, regardless of financial status or creed is a fundamental right we should not take for granted in contemporary western democracies.
References:
Facing History & Ourselves, “Exploring the Concept of Identity”, last updated July 14, 2021.
Foucault, M. (1983). Discourse and truth: The problematization of parrhesia (J. Pearson, Trans.). foucault.info. https://foucault.info/parrhesia/foucault.DT1.wordParrhesia.en/