I took a photo of the space on campus where people can freely speak about their ideas and opinions. I know that having the right to free speech is a basic topic that is very well known in the constitution. I thought it very clearly highlighted some of the important pieces of what makes America different than other countries. The ability to say whatever you feel and think (apart from slander) are very crucial pieces of the enlightenment and romantic periods that have greatly ingrained themselves into America’s culture. Letting people have their own freedom as individuals is what these documents makes, and how it gives power to the people. This spot on campus is a direct testament to people’s rights. I wonder if the movement of free speech came from the more romantic and empirical movements, or whether people wanted to spite the oppressive traditional monarchies in Europe at the time, or whether it is both and how each influences the other?
I think this is a very relevant topic to our discussion, Kalo. I would assume that the idea of freedom of speech came from a combination of those suggested mindsets. Romantic authors like Rousseau suggested that man has freedoms that he may relinquish when joining a social contract, but can never be a slave. This would suggest that he should have basic rights like freedom of speech, otherwise he would be treated more as a slave. Locke claimed that man has natural rights and freedoms that others should respect. Most of the authors we have read would argue that the governments they were in were confining and oppressive. All these factors may have led to the idea and importance of freedom of speech. Judging from the declaration of independence, the people wanted to escape the oppression of the previous government and start over in a new government with more freedom.