Exam 1 - Mill's 3 Arguments Flashcards
Argument 1
“the opposing opinion may be true”
what would mill consider a true EVIL and why?
- silencing someone’s opinion is the true evil.
- both sides suffer; the world is deprived of diversity, openness, an opportunity to make their own opinions better.
infallible fallacy
the belief that your opinion can do no wrong or is flawless/without logical bias and error.
HUMANS ARE NOT INFALLIBLE - NO MATTER HOW CERTAIN ONE MAY BE.
who was JS Mill?
utilitarian, abolitionist, feminist.
harm principle
others should be free to do as they please on the grounds that it does not cause harm for another whatsoever.
tyranny of the majority
the dominant class silences opposition, thus interfering in the pursuit of the good life and liberty.
suppression by authority
assumes the infallibility of those in power
appeal to authority
a logical fallacy, to believe people are right simply because their status suggests them credible.
appeal to error
while an opinion may truly be based on error, there is still value in hearing it.
Argument 2
“he who knows his side of the case … knows little of that”
conditions for a valid argument
- you must be able to refute counterarguments/defend your opinion.
- must hold the opinion with your entire faith otherwise it stands no chance against opposition.
- exposed to frequent challenging, thus refined through it’s defence.
concept of living truth
an opinion that is constantly challenged so that it is strengthened and kept alive thru defense.
dead dogma
a belief that has gone so long unchallenged that people forget why they hold the belief entirely.
“a catechism to be repeated on faith alone”
Argument 3
“conflicting doctrines share the truth between them”
sharing the truth
one argument cannot be complete with the truth without the opposing side contributing it’s part.
