What is it about?
The aim of this essay is to explore one of the most important arguments that are made on behalf of tolerance, deriving from the liberalism of Mill. This is the Truth Principle. I examine Mill's classical essay On Liberty and also his early article "Law of Libel and Liberty of the Press", which has not received adequate attention of scholars. I argue (1) that it is difficult to reconcile the arguments expressed by Mill in his earlier article with what he later said in On Liberty; and that (2) the search for truth might generate an atmosphere of intolerance. I maintain that the liberal Kantian directive of respecting others should have precedence over the Truth Principle. I reinforce my criticism of the Truth Principle by pondering some relevant examples, considering the possibilities of postponing, and even terminating, the discovery of truth altogether.
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Why is it important?
The Truth Principle has been invoked by social scientists, judges, journalists and politicians in the democratic world.
Perspectives
JS Mill is one of my heroes. I find myself keep returning to his intriguing scholarship
Professor Raphael Cohen-Almagor
Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Why tolerate? Reflections on the Millian truth principle, Philosophia, April 1997, Springer Science + Business Media,
DOI: 10.1007/bf02380029.
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