Question

Consider the ramifications of Mill’s perspective on free speech with reference to any of the contemporary free speech examples reviewed in class.

In Chapter II ‘Of the Liberty of Thought and Discussion’ Mill sates... “the peculiar evil of silencing the expression of an opinion is that it is robbing the human race, posterity as well as the existing generation- those who dissent from the opinion, still more than those who hold it. If the opinion is right, they are deprived of the opportunity of exchanging error for truth; if wrong, they lose, what is almost as great a benefit, the clearer perception and livelier impression of truth produced by its collision with error....”

I have to right an essay based on that quote, but I don’t fully understand the quote. I was hoping that you could give an in depth analysis of the quote.

Answer 1

Mill supports the freedom of speech by saying suppressing free speech well prevent the society from receiving something worthwhile because only human beings can look into the future by analyzing the past and present. Religions, for long prevented anyone speaking against its doctrines thus ending up killing the early scientists such as Galileo by branding their speeches or discoveries as blasphemy. Kings brutally murdered whoever talked anything against them.

He says that if people like the opinion of someone they will accept it and if they don’t like it they will reject it but no one has the right to prevent someone from speaking out their opinions which would help the human race change the way they live to a better manner. Freedom of speech in the 19^th and 20^th century helped people achieve their right by openly talking about it such as black rights, women’s rights, same sex rights etc. Today, almost all the individualistic and democratic countries have achieved freedom of speech completely which helps people come together and share their opinions with like minded people to achieve whatever they intend to achieve.