The Importance of Free Speech: Building on Greg Lukianoff’s Principles

There seems to be a belief, which almost everyone agrees with, or at least they should. Free speech is the most potent check on power ever invented. We live in an era defined by online rage and ideological polarization. Many have confused the principle of freedom of speech with a misguided freedom from speech. Attorney, activist, and President of the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE), Greg Lukianoff, addressed this issue with the following powerful message: free speech isn’t a relic of the past. It is a vital, radical, and necessary tool for a healthy democracy.

What’s the difference between freedom of speech and freedom from speech? Freedom of speech means the right to express one's opinion without government restriction or mob retaliation. Freedom from speech is the expectation of being shielded from offensive or disagreeable ideas. The metaphorical hurdle in the road to freedom of speech is that it gives rise to mob censorship. This is when groups seek to silence or punish others for unpopular or offensive statements using physical or near-physical intimidation. This impulse often comes from an insidious and dangerous philosophical leap: the idea that challenging or disagreeable words are equivalent to physical violence.

By equating words with violence, humanity undermines our greatest defense against actual violence. That defence is the ability to debate and put forth points in a rational, orderly manner instead of turning to violence.

Lukianoff outlines four fundamental truths we must accept to restore a culture that values free speech:

• Free Speech Makes Us Safer: By allowing all ideas to be aired, even dangerous or misguided ones, free speech lets us see problems coming. Silencing dissent doesn't make a bad idea go away; it just drives it underground, where it can fester and radicalize in echo chambers. You are never safer for knowing less about what people truly think.
• Free Speech Cures Violence: Throughout history, the freedom to protest, argue, and petition has served as the essential non-violent pressure release valve for conflict. When people feel they have no voice, they are more likely to turn to action. Free expression is the civilized alternative to resorting to force.
• Free Speech Protects the Powerless: It serves as the ultimate, indispensable safeguard of power because it allows anyone, regardless of wealth or status, to criticize the government and other powerful institutions.
• Even "Bad People" Can Have Beneficial Ideas: We often dismiss arguments based solely on the speaker's identity or reputation. We do not consider that a person’s moral character, political affiliation, or past actions don’t automatically invalidate the merits of their idea. We must cultivate the maturity to evaluate arguments on their own terms, not on the biases of the source.

The choice we face today isn't between an offensive statement and a polite silence. It’s between open engagement and an endless cycle of retaliatory censorship. Free speech is not about making us feel comfortable; it is about providing the mechanism for social and moral progress. The path forward requires us to re-embrace the courageous, messy, and necessary commitment to hear the other side.

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