Tuesday 18 October 2011

Is “freedom of expression” a desirable and feasible end?

By Nqobile Mafu


Introduction:

It is well known that freedom of expression is an individual opinion which you can say something without any limitation. Also freedom of speech is the freedom to speak any act of seeking, receiving and imparting information or ideas, regardless of the medium used. This essay will critically analyse the freedom of expression in a desirable and feasible way. When we talk about media we will be talking of freedom of expression. We will be looking on how media is expressing its views to the society. This essay will critically go in depth of different countries and find out if freedom of expression is acceptable.
Mill's arguments for freedom of expression are simple enough. He himself summarizes them as follows: "We can never be sure that the opinion we are endeavouring to stifle is a false opinion; and if we were sure, stifling it would be an evil still." (Mill, 1974.p.76) But if one examines the way in which these arguments are elaborated, one soon discovers that Mill's summary of them is in fact oversimplified
http://www.victorianweb.org/philosophy/mill/ten/ch8.html

The freedom of expression is very popular in Europe because anything is taken for granted. This essay may suggest that freedom of expression is vital in our society but at the same time it may destroy you. Freedom of choice limits when you harm other people, therefore it affects their freedom of expression. Giving an example of going in a pub and you use vulgar language and you use the word thug some other people may get offended by that. http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&defl=en&q=define:
Freedom+of+Expression&sa=X&ei=voXaTM7cCNKv4AagobnSCA&ved=0CBgQkAE

According to Joel Brinkley article which was published on Saturday, October 3, 2009 at 3:00 a.m. state that with financial help from the United States; in Iraq several television stations began broadcasting relatively independent news. After decades of brutal repression, freedom of the press and expression flowered through, of course bombers and militants made life dangerous and harrowing for journalists and everyone else. 170 journalists were killed during the first five years of war. http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091003/OPINION/910029870?p=3&tc=pg

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