Stuart Mill's "On Liberty"

Stuart Mill önceden de söylediğim gibi samimiyetimle fikirlerini içselleştirebildiğim neredeyse tek filozof. Aquinas'ın felsefesinde gözlemlediğim benzer bir fikri öne atıyor Hürriyet kitabında. Aquinas insanları erdemli olmaya zorlarsak onları erdemli olma fırsatından yoksun bırakırız diyor. Mill'de buna benzer bir fikir öne atarak eğer muhalif fikirleri sansürlersek, insanları conformity'ye uymaya teşvik eder hatta zorlarız, muhakemelerini kullanmaya fırsat vermeyiz.

                                                    Dissident Ideas Matter

In John Stuart Mill's statement, "Judgment is given to men that they may use it. Because it may be used erroneously, are men to be told that they ought not to use it at all?" Mill explores the delicate balance between humans' inherent tendency to make errors and the inescapable requirement of making choices. Mill insists on the necessity of relying on our potentially flawed judgments even though he acknowledges that people do make mistakes. This is primarily because, since every idea can be wrong, it falls upon individuals to question everything and act accordingly. These arguments lend themselves to the idea that conformity and other societal elements are harmful to an individual's autonomy in thought and action, and people should take accountability for their actions.

Mill’s reflections on societal perspectives suggest that absolute truth is almost unattainable, as every judgment bears the potential of being incorrect. Although this suggests that making judgments is dangerous, it radically indicates the contrary. According to Mill, authorities should employ their own reasoning to form and evaluate judgments, and should be confident in acting upon their ideas. The basis of this argument rests on the idea that since every notion carries the risk of being incorrect, unquestioningly adopting others' views could be even more harmful. Hence, the optimal method in Mill’s ideas is that individuals should critically evaluate ideas and bear the responsibility for their actions and thoughts.

Mill's argument points out the contradictory nature of human judgment and its fallibility. He notes that people often hold their opinions with firm resolve, especially those whose ideologies are unchallenged or those whose views are echoed in their close social spheres. He finds this detrimental because when individuals firmly grasp their beliefs, they lose their capacity to exercise judgment. Mill further explains this by introducing the concept of "the world," a term he uses to signify an individual's direct sphere of influence. This sphere is similar to a filter through which individuals interpret the world and form judgments, shaped by various factors such as personal history, experiences, and social surroundings. However, since the absolute truth should not change in accordance with any factor, Mill’s deliberation on the world suggests that the majority (the world) can be wrong. For instance, Mill argues that the same random influences that might make someone a Christian in London could also result in someone else becoming a Buddhist in another location. This example illuminates that reliance on “the world” can lead to results that simply occur due to environmental or historical factors rather than truth. Thus, it implies that similar influences can shape different belief systems as the setting and context vary, suggesting that there is no inherent truth value in these belief systems. Therefore, it can be wrong to conform and consider the majority's ideas as irrefutable. Ultimately, Mill's argument posits that perceptions aren't grounded in universal truths; instead, they mirror society and environment. As a result, an individual's religious or philosophical convictions can be arbitrary, determined by the random influences of their particular context, thereby stressing the need for exercising personal judgment.

In conclusion, John Stuart Mill's reflections on judgment and fallibility explore the essential relationship between humans’ inclination to make errors and the obligation to make decisions. Mill suggests that individuals must exercise their judgment, regardless of the potential for mistakes, as it is through this exercise that individuals fulfill their responsibilities and pursue their interests. He warns against the pitfalls of accepting societal views unquestionably and solely depending on the majority's ideas. He portrays conformity as a very harmful concept and views individual judgment and personal accountability as essential.