Thought is Never an Enemy to Thought. John Stuart Mill and Alexis de Tocqueville’s Plea for Liberty of Thought and Discussion
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Abstract
Freedom of thought and freedom of speech are considered inherent goods in con- temporary democratic society that few people dare to question openly. Widespread acceptance does not preclude, however, that in many arenas this same liberty might be violated or threatened. The problem is that, among other things, it is difficult to stand up for a right without having a clear and vivid perception of the grounds on which it rests. This article focuses on the analysis of this particular issue by two of the nineteenth century’s sharpest thinkers: Alexis de Tocqueville and John Stuart Mill. Along with their plea for a society where different classes could coexist and their aspirations for the role of the press and education, Mill and Tocqueville also emphasized the need to ensure freedom of thought and discussion as a core requirement to “inject” dynamism and diversity within democratic societies. Their arguments are addressed in this paper from three different but closely related perspectives: philosophical, political and sociological.
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