| Author |
Milton, John, 1608-1674 |
| Title |
Areopagitica
A Speech for the Liberty of Unlicensed Printing to the Parliament of England
|
| Note |
Reading ease score: 43.6 (College-level). Difficult to read.
|
| Credits |
Produced by Judith Boss and David Widger
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| Summary |
"Areopagitica" by John Milton is a historical treatise advocating for the freedom of unlicensed printing, written during the 17th century at a time of significant political and religious upheaval in England. The work presents a passionate argument against censorship, emphasizing the importance of free expression and the vital role that literature and debate play in the pursuit of truth and enlightenment. The opening of "Areopagitica" sets the stage for Milton's plea to the Parliament of England, where he expresses his belief that true liberty lies in the ability of individuals to freely communicate their thoughts and ideas. He reflects on the value of unlicensed printing and warns against the dangers of censorship, asserting that suppressing ideas only stifles innovation and discourages intellectual growth. Milton draws on historical examples from ancient Greece and Rome to illustrate the destructive effects of licensing and censorship while calling upon the Parliament to promote a culture of open discourse and inquiry. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
|
| Language |
English |
| LoC Class |
K: Law in general, Comparative and uniform law, Jurisprudence
|
| LoC Class |
Z: Bibliography, Library science
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| Subject |
Freedom of the press -- Early works to 1800
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| Category |
Text |
| EBook-No. |
608 |
| Release Date |
Jan 21, 2006 |
| Most Recently Updated |
Feb 23, 2013 |
| Copyright Status |
Public domain in the USA. |
| Downloads |
1617 downloads in the last 30 days. |
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