Freedom of Speech

Freedom of speech, also known as free speech, is a Janus-faced concept with a long historical tradition. Its origins date back at least to the Athenian democracy, with a much more recent affirmation, especially in the western world, during the 17th and 18th centuries. Old origins and a recent implementation makes the concept of free speech both ancient and modern. The roots of the principle of free speech can be roughly located in the Greek city-states and, in particular, in the concepts of isegoria (“equal right of address” or “the right of every citizen to address the assembly”) and parrhêsia, that is, the freedom to speak “frankly” or, simply, “frank speech.”