Chapter 1: The English Heritage Flashcards
Parliamentary Rights
Expands freedom of speech to include members of parliament in their official capacity (English Bill of rights of 1689)
Sir William Blackstone: Commentaries on the Laws of England (1769)
Established that freedom of speech was the absence of prior restraint. However, speech that tended to disturb the social order could be punished after publication
Seditious Libel
The crime of criticizing the king, government officials, laws, symbols, or politics of the government
Private Libel
The crime of criticizing a private individual (defamation)
Blasphemous Libel
The crime of criticizing the church or god
Obscene Libel
Inappropriate, sexual, or offensive content
John Milton: Areopagitica (1644)
4 reasons for parliament to abandon prior restraint:
1. It was developed and used by those in low regard
2. It weakens character
3. It is ineffective
4. It discourages learning and the search for truth
- Believed that only the truth should be published, and those who publish falsehoods should be punished
John Stuart Mills: On Liberty (1859)
3 reasons to support FOS
1. censored ideas may be fact
2. Even truth should be challenged
3. There is some truth in all opinions
- the majority/powerful should not limit the minority