Spinoza on Freedom of Speech and Its Limits

Spinoza is one of the philosophers who discussed freedom of thought and freedom of speech systematically in early modem Europe. According to Spinoza, freedom of speech is the natural right of every person, and it cannot be transferred to another. The freedom of speech not only can be granted without harm to Piety and the Peace of the Republic, but also cannot be abolished unless Piety and the Peace of the Republic are also destroyed. But this does not mean Spinoza suggested that the freedom of speech is granted without limit, on the contrary, he maintained that it would be quite fatal to grant it completely. He held that the speech of doing harm to the social contract or the republic or other people deliberately is not permitted. The free man should be self-control in speech.