Blog 11
Individual Self-Fulfillment
When speaking on the Eight Values of Free Expression, one that is very inspiring, important and meaningful is individual self-fulfillment (self-actualization). “Free speech enables individuals to express themselves and thereby create their own identity — and, in the process perhaps, find kindred spirits. Freedom of speech thus becomes an aspect of human dignity, human agency and autonomy.” Self-fulfillment is a realization of character and the potential that you can live up to as a human being. Self-fulfillment also relates back to the right to form your own beliefs and opinions and the aspect of free expression is the right to present these certain opinions to others. Self-fulfillment is an important factor in life, in which people create their own identity and discover their own potential in aspects of life. With self-actualization, people are able to put together thoughts, ideas and beliefs that make up who they are. Free expression coming into terms of self-fulfillment is an extremely important concept as people can come together because of it.
With the use of free expression, people can bring about the ideas, thoughts and beliefs they had to themselves and share it with other people. This act can easily bring people together, attach spirits and develop bonds and it can also be a path for people to be educated on other people’s opinions. The overall idea of self-fulfillment is a super important theory and allows people to feel a certain dignity within themselves. The first amendment giving the right of freedom of speech allows for everyday experiences for human beings. Given the freedom of speech, people can share with others new ideas and can influence others with different creative points of view which all impact one another. There are so many different values, beliefs and personalities in the world and without each person’s “self-actualization”, the world would be left without cultural impacts and creative ideas that are passed by human beings to one another. Taking in the information I read in the article “Self-Fulfillment Theory of Free Speech” by Rodney A. Smolla, an important quote is “Speech is protected not as a means of a collective good but because of the value of speech conduct to the individual.’’ The right of freedom of speech is a major key in the way of life for individuals and thoughts are presented with speech and speech is the entry to the individual’s mind. Each person is entitled to the opinions they have in life and every person is able to express these opinions due to their first amendment right. Self-fulfillment is an important value of free expression.
Link- https://uscivilliberties.org/themes/4465-self-fulfillment-theory-of-free-speech.html
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