Ideas, Opinions, Liberty, and John Stuart Mill

I was educated as an engineer in the 20th century.  I learned "steam tables thermodynamics," differential equations, electric fields (antenna equation), and engineering (electrical, mechanical, biomedical). I did not learn about literature, sociology, arts, languages, philosophy, or civics (political science).  However, I read quite a bit in a broad range of topics.  And the history of ideas, including polemics and civics is interesting to most folks.

This interesting essay by Richard Reeves has prompted me (finally!) to read On Liberty. In particular, Reeves summarizes concepts in the second chapter:

Mill believed that the pursuit of truth required the collation and combination of ideas and propositions, even those that seem to be in opposition to each other. He urged us to allow others to speak—and then to listen to them—for three main reasons, most crisply articulated in Chapter 2 of On Liberty.

First, the other person's idea, however controversial it seems today, might turn out to be right. ("The opinion … may possibly be true.") Second, even if our opinion is largely correct, we hold it more rationally and securely as a result of being challenged. ("He who knows only his own side of the case, knows little of that.") Third, and in Mill's view most likely, opposing views may each contain a portion of the truth, which need to be combined. ("Conflicting doctrines … share the truth between them.")

These ideas are foundational to good science and engineering.  They are also at the heart of The Enlightenment that enabled human progress. I am frequently disappointed that our society and public discourse do not naturally embrace these concepts.  I am optimistic that we can indoctrinate future generations to honor and embrace these values.