mill on free speech

Question 1

Explain the relationship between Plato’s “Allegory of the Cave” and Mill’s argument in “On Liberty”.

Answer 1

To overcome your (confirmation) bias you must (challenge your own beliefs) by listening to ideas that oppose your own. Don’t (censor) opposing ideas.

Question 2

What is Mill’s thesis on free speech?

Answer 2

When you disagree with what other people are saying you should (let them speak) not (censor) them.

Question 3

What is the best way to keep bad ideas from spreading?

Answer 3

(Defeat bad ideas with good ideas), not (censorship )

Question 4

What are Mill’s three arguments on why free speech is so necessary?

Answer 4

1. Your opponent may be correct.
2. Your opponent may be false, but we shouldn’t be complacent in our truth.
3. Your opponent’s speech is usually partially true. As is our own. Finding the truth should be the priority.

Question 5

What is the main point of Mill’s 1st argument? What is his reasoning?

Answer 5

1. You could be mistaken, and they may be correct.
2. If you can’t believe this is a possibility then you believe you are infallible. Which is dangerous.

Question 6

What is the main point of Mill’s 2nd argument? What is his reasoning?

Answer 6

1. If you opponent is wrong, don’t be complacent.
2. Replace your dead dogma with living truth.
3. Dead Dogma: Your belief in a truth, but the inability to understand/defend why it is true. ‘
   Living Truth: Your belief that a statement is true with the ability to defend it.

Question 7

What is the main point of Mill’s 3rd argument? What is his reasoning?

Answer 7

This gives you the chance to synthesize your partial truth and your opponents partial truth to reach a closer version to the truth.

Question 8

What is the Marketplace of Ideas metaphor?

Answer 8

Truth will emerge in a free marketplace of ideas, as they will overcome falsehoods. It is arguing for freedom of speech.

Question 9

What are the four legal exceptions to free speech in the US? (What type of speech is illegal?)

Answer 9

1. Harassing Speech
2. Threats
3. Defamation
4. Incitement/ Imminent Harm

Question 10

What three controversial types of speech are legal in the US?

Answer 10

1. Offensive Speech
2. Hateful Speech & Protest
3. Harmful Tendency

Question 11

What is Mill’s general thesis?

Answer 11

We should allow our opponents to speak freely all the time.