Mill on Free Speech & Open Debate

Question 1

Title of the book

Answer 1

On Liberty

Question 2

Main conclusion of the chapter we covered

Answer 2

Chapter 2: All Minus One

Let your opponents speak freely, don’t censor them

To prevent bad ideas from spreading, defeat bad ideas with good ideas, NOT censorship

Question 3

Problem: Allegory of Cave
Solution:

Answer 3

Mill - To be a less biased thinker, you should let people speak freely. Subject your beliefs to criticism. Don’t censor.

Question 4

Mill’s 1st Argument

Answer 4

Main idea: You should let people you disagree with speak freely, BC sometimes your opponent is right & you are wrong

Reasoning: If you can’t admit this possibility, then you think you are infallible (can’t be mistaken)

Question 5

Mill’s 2nd Argument

Answer 5

Main idea: You should let people you disagree with speak freely EVEN when your opponent is wrong & you are right

Reasoning: Because by listening to people and having your beliefs, even true ones, challenged, will transform your dead dogmas into living truths

Mill uses the term “distinction”
–> dead dogmas: your belief is
true but you don’t
understand why it is true
–> living truths: your belief is
true and you understand
why

Question 6

Mills 3rd Argument

Answer 6

Main idea: You should let people you disagree with speak freely, BC usually both you & your opponent understand part of the truth

Reasoning: By listening to your opponent, you can synthesize the truth from each perspective and get closer to the whole truth

Question 7

Exceptions to free speech (not protected)

Answer 7

1. harassment
2. threats
3. imminent harm (right now: ex/ shouting fire in a crowded theatre)

Question 8

Not exceptions to free speech (protected)

Answer 8

1. offensive speech (ex/ “All Republicans/Democrats are idiotic and
   immoral” , “Fuck the draft”, Flag burning)
2. hate speech (ex/ racist, homophobic, anti-semitic, misogynistic, etc)
3. harmful tendency (not rn)

Question 9

According to the Marketplace of Ideas Metaphor, who should decide which ideas are good n which are bad, n who should not?

Answer 9

Each individual decides for themself
Government doesn’t decide

Question 10

According to the Marketplace of Ideas Metaphor, what is the best way to prevent bad ideas from spreading?

Answer 10

Good ideas will win the competition over bad ideas