John Stuart Mills "On Liberty"

Rule 1

Rule 2

Rule 3

“Silencing” (calling out, shaming, etc.)
– Assumption of infallibility
– “Liberty of contradiction” is the very condition
which justifies us in actionable truth
– Facts can’t tell their own story w/o comments to
bring out meaning (”devil’s advocate”)
– “Truth gains more from even the errors of
someone who thinks for himself”

– Any “truth” is “dead dogma” if not fully,
frequently discussed (a “living truth”)
– Math: already concrete
– Physics (natural philosophy): other possibilities?
– Opinions: ¾ of the argument is dispelling others
– Cicero: “study the adversary more”

A “Non-conforming” opinion is needed to supply
the remainder of the truth
– Popular opinions are often true but seldom the
whole truth
– Heretical opinions are generally some of the
suppressed & neglected truths

“Opinions which embody a portion of the truth
are precious, with whatever amount of error and
confusion that truth may be blended”
– “one-sided asserters” are the most energetic
– “We overrate how different we are from men of
ancient times”

“Suppression of half of it is the formidable evil”
– Gravest: suppress facts/ misrepresent as morally
culpable
– Worst offense: stigmatize those who hold the
contrary opinion