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A Rhetorical Analysis Of On Liberty By John Stuart Mill

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“If all mankind minus one were of one opinion, mankind would be no more justified in silencing than one person than he, if he has the power, would be justified in silencing mankind” (Mill, 1859, p.14). In the essay On Liberty by John Stuart Mill, written in 1859. Mill discusses his thoughts on the issue of freedom of speech and expresses his argument throughout the entirety of the essay. His argument states that society should be able to express themselves through speech without the threat of the Government or the tyranny of the majority interrupting the speaker`s liberty. He claims that as long as what an individual is saying does not cause direct harm on others an individual should be able to speak their beliefs freely without any consequences. In addition to his argument on freedom of speech throughout the essay Mill argues about the importance of individuality and how citizens need to learn how to think for themselves and to not conform to the societal …show more content…

Society should treat people with different views and opinions respectfully and the same as how they would treat someone with their own opinion. Only when their speech or actions become harmful should someone step in and the discussion be put to an end. In the TVO episode of The Agenda featuring Mark Steyn and three Osgoode Hall Law School students, Mill would argue that both parties deserved to say what they felt even though the words that the parties were both saying could have hurt the people and groups involved. In the essay On Liberty by John Stuart Mill, Mill argues with great logic the value of freedom of speech, his argument is valid, and in relation to The Agenda episode Mill would argue that Mark Steyn`s discussion and written work is acceptable and should be heard, however to keep Canada a safe country, limitations need to be set on the law of freedom of

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