John Stuart Mill · Politics

Why Free Speech Matters

Mill’s argument that we must protect even opinions we are certain are false - because silencing them robs everyone, and our certainty is never as safe as it feels.

What you'll be able to recall

You learned that Mill defends free speech in three steps - the silenced opinion may be true, partly true, or, even if false, useful. Reconstruct the three, in your own words.

Leads to Oliver Wendell Holmes.

Begin this lesson →
← All lessons on John Stuart Mill

epoché — a humanities education that remembers you.