Eight Values of Free Expression

The Eight Values of Freedom:

1.     Marketplace of Ideas

2.     Participation of Self-Government

3.     Stable Change

4.     Individual Self-Fulfillment

5.     Check on Governmental Power

6.     Promote Tolerance

7.     Promote Innovation

8.     Protect Dissent

Though I believe that all of these values are important, the one that really resonates with me and seems the most significant is the 4^th value: individual self-fulfillment (also known as self-actualization).

According to our class blog site, the meaning of this value is:

Free speech enables individuals to express themselves and thereby create their own identify — and, in the process perhaps, find kindred spirits. Freedom of speech thus becomes an aspect of human dignity, human agency and autonomy.

I’ve always been one that loved to express myself—whether it’s through writing or how I dress. This value allows for people to use their first amendment right to express themselves and what they believe in. Seeing other people use their first amendment right could encourage others (who also believe in the same idea) to do so too.

The value of individual self-fulfillment can be seen as a basis of some of the other values. I related this value to the 3^rd value, stable change. Stable change means that in a society that allows for those who feel “alienated” or even “oppressed” to convey their feelings, it is less likely for those people to “resort to violence” (class blog site). Allowing these people to express themselves and assemble (4^th value) will turn them away from violence (3^rd value). If society continues to allow these people to speak freely of their beliefs, the government can work on preventing groups of people who contradict this idea from acting.

Where would America be without free expression? The different identities people create throughout their freedom of expression helps the world go around.

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