Free Speech on Campus

Professor Lee Epstein and Chancellor Andrew D. Martin

Political Science 334

Spring 2022

TOOLS 1: JUSTIFICATIONS FOR FREE EXPRESSION (January 26)

Outline and Readings:

Justification 1. Discovering Truth (The "Marketplace of Ideas")
Read excerpts from (1) Mill, On Liberty and (2) Holmes, dissent in Abrams v. United States

Justification 2. Facilitating Participation by Citizens in Political Decision Making ("Foundation of Self-Governance")
Read excerpt from Meiklejohn, Free Speech and Its Relation to Self-Government

For the readings, click here.

Section/Class Activities

1. Explain and defend the Discovering Truth justification
2. Explain and defend the Facilitating Participation justification
3. Consider challenges to each