Marketplace of Ideas

The First Amendment freedom of speech is often described as creating a "marketplace of ideas." In this marketplace, all are free to present their ideas and, hopefully, the soundest of them will become the most prevalent. But when to regulate speech has always been controversial. After all, what is inflammatory speech to one person is a hard truth to another. NPR reports.

Questions...

•Why should we have free speech? What does it do for our society?

•What types of speech currently test the limits of free speech?

•Does the Marketplace of Ideas work? Do the most credible, rationally-sound ideas inevitably win out?

•Is the solution to be an "absolutist" on the First Amendment? Why or why not?