Which principle did John Stuart Mill articulate in defense of free speech?

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BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

When evaluating Mill's stance on free speech, we must compare each option to his harm-based justification for freedom of expression.
Option 1: "Speech should be allowed only if it is true". This is not Mill's position. He argued that truth often emerges through contested debate, and even false opinions can play a role in uncovering truth; restricting speech merely because it is false would limit the overall search for truth.
Option 2: "Speech must support majority opinion". Mill did not tie free speech to prevailing majorities. He warned against silencing minority viewpoints simply because they are unpopular, since suppression can suppress truth and inhibit intellectual progress.
Option 3: "Speech should only be restricted to prevent harm to others". This mirrors Mill's harm principle: liberty of individuals should only be curtailed to prevent direct or substantial harm to others, with speech being restricted only when it causes such harm. This aligns with his defense of free expression as essential to individual and societal flourishing.
Option 4: "Speech must be moderated by experts". Mill did not argue that experts should regulate speech; his thesis centers on the general principle of liberty unless harm to others is present, not hierarchical control by experts.
Thus, by process of elimination and alignment with the harm-based rationale for protecting discourse, the statement that best captures Mill's articulation is that speech should be restricted only to prevent harm to others.

ARIN2610 (ND) Week 07 Quiz

Which principle did John Stuart Mill articulate in defense of free speech?

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