ipl-logo

Mill's Assumptions

2530 Words11 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Criticism on Mill's concept on liberty

On Liberty Essay

Assumptions are by definition “an idea or notion” that is outwardly known and accepted as the truth (“Assumptions”). Mill defends his argument for free speech on a basis of numerous assumptions, one of which is utility. This is an assumption of Mill’s argument because he does not question that allowing others to speak freely is useful. The notion that freedom of speech and opinion is useful is one of the basic tenets of his essay. Mill refers to this claim and its many benefits for society throughout his paper. In such instances Mill refers to the assumptive fact that allowing others to express their opinions can lead to truth. This is another idea that lie at the basis for this essay. In listing reasons for free speech, …show more content…

Throughout Mill’s essay, he argues against the oppressive tyranny of the government in silencing the opinions of others. He warns that “there needs to be protection also against the tyrant of the prevailing opinion of feeling; against the tendency of society to impose… its own ideas on those who dissent from them” (Mill 9). Mill justifies this statement by explaining that limiting government interference in the life of the individual ensures the absence of despotism or, in other words, tyranny (Mill 9). From a political/philosophical standpoint, allowing individuals to speak freely affords others the ability to be challenged and through this one can eliminate falsehoods and discover the truth in society in ways that tyranny denies (Mill 19). Mill’s view on truth, social progress, and utility are fully in accordance with my own. I believe that it is a strong argument on behalf on Mill to include the above in his essay because in my opinion these are very strong reasons for why freedom of speech should prevail in society. Not only is allowing one to freely speak their opinion beneficial to themselves because they are allowed to share their views with others and discuss matters that may be of importance to them, but it is also beneficial to others through allowing them to revise their opinion in the presence of compelling facts which lessens ignorance in society, and proves the livelihood of their opinion through active discussion. The benefits of individuality discussed by Mill have further proven to be useful as these benefits are seen in own liberal democratic society (e.g. debates on facts leading to the truth; earth is flat vs

Show More
Related
1040 Words | 5 Pages

Nevertheless, children or primitive societies do not get to exercise personal liberty because they are not capable of higher reasoning (Mill 1863). Hence, those of us capable of rationalization and learning have an obligation to care for them as long as we exercise utility in the process (Mill

Read More
516 Words | 3 Pages

As stated in the previous case, Mill defines every human as having liberty as long as that liberty does not get in the way of others. In Case B, there are two arguments, Professor Prestille and Professor Mannis. Prestille is mad at Mannis because Mannis told his students that Prestille’s class is not a good class. Mannis tells his students that “postmodernism”, Prestile’s class topic, is a bad thing. This short essay will explore how this conflict would be seen using John Stuart Mill’s philosophy.

Read More
319 Words | 2 Pages

In “The Indispensable Opposition”, Walter Lippmann writes that respecting others freedom of speech is difficult, but it must be done. He informs the readers that freedom of opinion is of the utmost importance in society, and that the freedom of others is our own vital necessity. He persuades readers by using powerful diction to set the tone, periodic sentences, and juxtaposition. Lippmann uses diction to emphasize his point, in that he uses multiple words to draw the reader's attention.

Read More
565 Words | 3 Pages

Liberty precisely translates to freedom nevertheless in the present day, just as in Thoreau’s time, through regulations and taxes the government hegemonies Americans, purloining their autonomy with dictating laws and delegating individual comportment. Society aspires to dictate their own capital investments and suffer alienation by the power of immense government who more than ever emerges to enforce taxation without representation. Freedom is the national identity predominantly venerated by Americans. Thoreau’s main theme within the ideology of freedom is a reduction of government. Throughout history, acts of civil disobedience have memorably forced a reexamination of society's ethical strictures.

Read More
542 Words | 3 Pages

Throughout his whole essay, Lippmann uses rhetorical strategies to strengthen his opinions of how society views freedom. With the use of interruption in his essay, Lippmann starts his article off by saying, “Were they pressed hard enough, most men would probably confess that political freedom--that is to say, that right to speak freely and to act in opposition--is a noble ideal rather than a practical necessity.” By using dashes in the middle of his sentence, Lipmann starts off with strong opening.

Read More
449 Words | 2 Pages

The freedoms of men and women are guaranteed under law, yet somehow we tell eachother that our speech is incorrect and should be looked down upon. How can the liberties of other people be less valuable than than your own? Americans tend to simply push an opposing opinion out of their way, deeming it invaluable and useless, but when someone does that same thing to them, they are up in arms about their right to free speech. Walter Lippman uses powerful pathos and strong diction in his article The Indispensable Opposition to develop his argument that individuals must respect and listen to other’s opinions in order for society to grow as a whole. People’s emotions are always hard to decipher and angle so that their opinion is altered, or even changed.

Read More
590 Words | 3 Pages

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

Read More
1387 Words | 6 Pages

But if he refrains from molesting others in what concerns them, and merely acts according to his own inclination and judgment in things which concern himself, the same reasons which show that opinion should be free, prove also that he should be allowed, without molestation, to carry his opinions into practice at his own cost.” A man could enjoy his liberty of action and expression following his own instincts and appetites as long as it does not affect negatively the liberty of others. He can put into action his own thoughts and beliefs, taking as a personal responsability the consequences that this action could

Read More
289 Words | 2 Pages

In the article, “The Indispensable Opposition,” author, Walter Lippmann, argues his claim that we must view the freedom of oppositions as a way to improve our decisions in a democratic society rather than just tolerating that freedom of speech. When freedom of speech is tolerated and only seen as a right to speak, Lippmann believes that the liberty of opinion becomes a luxury. Moving forward, Lippmann then states that we must understand that the freedom of speech for our opponents are a vital necessity since it provides our own opinions to grow in improvement. Through practical experience, we realize we need the freedom of opposition and is no longer just our opponent ’s right.

Read More
1685 Words | 7 Pages

Mill’s statements on the freedom of speech is what I will rely on for my argument. Mill’s view on the freedom of speech is still relevant today because he does not take the view that there shouldn’t be any freedom of speech, but that it should be limited at certain times and this issue is very relevant in today’s society. Mill states a bold statement in the footnote at the beginning of Chapter II of On Liberty, in defence of the freedom of speech ‘If the arguments of the present chapter are of any validity, there ought to exist the fullest liberty of professing and discussing, as a matter of ethical conviction, any doctrine, however immoral it may be considered’. Mill clearly is in the defence of the freedom of speech here because this liberty has to exist with everything so that we have ‘absolute freedom of

Read More
1128 Words | 5 Pages

If people have no place to voice their will or take part in deciding their own destiny, the community might grow disinterested and passive in their relationship with their government. Mill believes this is problematic for society because history, as he sees it, has shown that more democratic societies have more ‘energetic, and ‘developed’ societies as well as more ‘go ahead characters’ not seen in more totalitarian societies. Yet, this criticism might fail to cover a deeper problem of disinterest; it might lead to a level of moral deficiency as well. Mill fears that a loss of ability and activity, leads to a society losing its sense of communal responsibility and social justice. In their aloofness, people might be less inclined to believe that they have any responsibility to society since society has ceased to have any rights or purpose under absolute authority.

Read More
297 Words | 2 Pages

“On Liberty” by John Stuart Mill This reading has to do with political and social freedoms. In Chapter II, Mill reflects on whether people, either by themselves or through their tyrannical government, should be allowed to pressure anyone else’s point of view or opinion. He states that by doing so, it is basically unlawful. This is because if everyone were to agree on something but there just happens to be an odd man out, that one person would be silenced because the majority are agreeing so they’re the powerful group. But if that odd man out had the power, he would be justified in silencing mankind.

Read More
1104 Words | 5 Pages

It was not until Mill’s late teens that he began to study Jeremy Bentham and his utilitarianism theory. “Reading Bentham satisfied Mill’s cravings for scientific precision and gave him a new way of looking at social intercourse” (Buchholz 97). Mill became so intrigued with Bentham that he decided to preach the Benthamite gospel in the Westminster Review, a publication started by his father and Jeremy Bentham. Mill’s views soon changed as he grew older. It is said that Mill had a mid-life crisis at the age of twenty because he took the Bentamite precision too far and actually forgot the ultimate goal of Utilitarianism in the first place, happiness.

Read More
1026 Words | 5 Pages

A lot of people might not agree with the way Mark Steyn expressed his opinion, but that is the point. A lot of people are not going to agree with your opinion because humans have different opinions and they think and act differently. The reason why Mill suggests that you should have the right to hold your opinion because it is yours and if you are not harming anyone then nothing restricts you from expressing

Read More
817 Words | 4 Pages

The fact that one has the right to say and believe is the foundation for democracy to function. If no one dared to say their opinions, then it had become a dictatorship where only one opinion on how society and the country should work had been the “right”. If people dared to express their opinions, they will help improving the society one lives. Freedom of speech gives one the responsibility to consider what fits into different contexts, and it will make us better persons and people. Simply, people will feel safe in the society they live in.

Read More

More about Mill's Assumptions

Related Topics

Open Document