Philosophers have investigated the nature of truth for centuries, and Mill’s perspective is one of them. The discussed passage is from the book “On Liberty” written by John Stuart Mill in 1859 (Mill 95). The author claims that three components of truth are characteristic of it. First, there is always the element of truth in every opinion, even when people do not articulate it publicly. Second, Mill assumes that the dominant idea does not necessarily mean that it is the truthful one. The truth becomes clear only in the discussion when people understand the arguments for this opinion and against it. In other words, individuals cannot distinguish right from wrong without a clash of views. The third critical issue that Mill emphasizes is the importance of disputes in acknowledging the truth because otherwise, most people regard it as dogma. Therefore, freedom of expression is essential to learning the truth and finding a balanced perspective on critical events. The truth cannot exist without the opportunity to express thoughts and opinions without restrictions.
Mill discussed freedom of speech and expression in the context of foregrounding the democratic social order. At the same time, the philosopher showed that there is no complete freedom of speech because it depends on the context and the person who expresses the opinion. The ideal system of freedom of expression is the basis of the democratic society, as Mill describes in his book “On Liberty.” The example of the British community of the 19th century that banned free speech and restricted individual self-expression showed the philosopher that it was destroying liberty. Therefore, forming a new, improved democratic community and state requires attention to free speech and self-expression.
Works Cited
Mill, John Stuart. On Liberty. J. W. Parker and Son, 1859.