Milton & The Marketplace of Ideas (KEY POST Week 11)
In 1644 the English author, John Milton, wrote a pamphlet that was controversial at the time and had it sent to the Parliament of England. In the pamphlet Milton expresses his strong opinions regarding censorship and limiting speech, for which he was not a fan. Although this piece was written by Milton centuries ago, its message is still relevant in 2020. Milton was certainly ahead of his time as he already understood the vital importance of diversity of opinion, as well as the benefits that a marketplace of ideas can bring to a society. These are especially important aspects within a democracy. However, even in modern-day America, there are still efforts to shield the public from certain opinions or silence certain voices. This occurs in the realms of politics, journalism, and social media, and is not unique to any one group, political party, or ideology. Milton believed that the public should be trusted to view, process, and react to information on their own behalf. He believed th...
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