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Single Idea 21058

[filed under theme 25. Social Practice / A. Freedoms / 3. Free speech ]

Full Idea

The public use of man's reason must always be free, and it alone can bring about enlightenment among men; the private use of reason may quite often be very narrowly restricted (…in a particular civil post or office).

Gist of Idea

Enlightenment requires the free use of reason in the public realm

Source

Immanuel Kant (Answer to 'What is Enlightenment?' [1784], p.55)

Book Ref

Kant,Immanuel: 'Political Writings', ed/tr. Reiss,Hans [CUP 1996], p.55


A Reaction

The private aspect seems to be the common restriction on speech by employees of the state. Does free speech have only instrumental value? Is the life of virtue possible without it?


The 16 ideas with the same theme [extent to which opinions can be freely expressed]:

Diogenes said that the most excellent thing among men was freedom of speech [Diogenes of Sin., by Diog. Laertius]
Nothing we say can be worse than unsaying it in the face of authority [Montaigne]
Treason may be committed as much by words as by deeds [Spinoza]
Freedom of speech and writing, within the law, is essential to preserve liberty [Montesquieu]
No government has ever suffered by being too tolerant of philosophy [Hume]
Enlightenment requires the free use of reason in the public realm [Kant]
Free speech is very precious, and everyone may speak and write freely (but take responsibility for it) [Mirabeau/committee]
The freedom of the press to sell poison outweighs its usefulness [Schopenhauer]
Liberty arises at the point where people can freely and equally discuss things [Mill]
The liberty of the press is more valuable for what it prevents than what it promotes [Tocqueville]
Deliberate public lying should be punished [Weil]
If persons define themselves by a group membership, insults to that group are a real harm [Sandel]
In the liberal view an insult to my group doesn't hurt me, since I'm defined by choices not groups [Sandel]
Free speech does not include the right to shout 'Fire!' in a crowded theatre [Tuckness/Wolf]
Allowing defamatory speech is against society's interests, by blurring which people are trustworthy [Charvet]
Liberal free speech is actually paid speech [Gopnik]