Blog Post #3: Values Of Free Expression

I chose to pick one of the Values of Free Expressions and I will be discussing "The Marketplace of Ideas and Discovery of Truth". John Milton published in 1644 was one of the most important works that was connected to the idea of Marketplace Ideas. He believed that people should be allowed to have different ideas instead of having the government decide which is acceptable. Milton's main argument was that people should have the freedom to discuss, ask questions, and challenge different opinions. The marketplace of ideas is based on the belief that truth is more likely to be discovered when different ideas are allowed to compete with one another. He believed that people should not accept something as true because autonomy tells them it is true. This can connect to the discovery of the truth because the truth can be developed through learning, disagreement and questioning. 

The COVID-19, pandemic gives an example of Milton's ideas. During the time period of COVID-19 people have received information from government officials, doctors, organizations and social media. There was always many different opinions about the treatments, virus, masks, and government policies. As months went on, the information started to change as doctors and scientists started to learn more about the virus. This ties back and shows an important part of discovering the truth. 

What I have learned by connecting COVID-19 to Milton's marketplace of ideas is that it's not about allowing people to say whatever they want but to have the freedom to question information for evidence. During COVID-19 it has shown how difficult it can be when consuming a ton of information. I also learned that discovering the truth can be a process than something happens. This connects back to Milton's market place of ideas because it depends on people being able to examine different challenges and viewpoints. The pandemic has shown me that a disagreement does not always mean that someone is wrong, but it can lead people to ask questions to find strong evidence.  

The Biden Administration also has become a part of this discussion because the government has played a big role in communicating information about COVID-19.  This has helped support Milton's argument because people have questioned how much of the government should have control over all the information, especially during the public-health crisis. This has shown that the public and the government has been able to show and prove to the world that they have handled this situation poorly. People had very different opinions about decisions being made during COVID-19. Some people trusted and listened to the doctors, government officials about the information that was told.   

COVID-19 made Milton's argument feel more relevant to society because it demonstrated that the search for trust and truth can be complicated. I learned that discovering the truth requires listening to other people and their perspectives which can include asking questions, finding information or being willing to change your understanding when new information becomes available. Milton's marketplace of ideas does show why freedom of discussion and thought matter.