John Stuart Mill on Liberty: Open-mindedness and Freedom of Conscience

“. . . [E]ven if the world is in the right, it is always probable that the dissentients have something worth hearing to say for themselves, and that truth would lose something by their silence.” (40) This quote from John Stuart Mill’s On Liberty briefly illustrates how mindful he was of the minority, whose voice was extremely important in society regardless of whether they were right or not. Truth is not some whole idea that can be manifested in the mind of merely one individual, for all are biased with their own perspectives and contexts. Rather, truth needs a variety of perspectives to bring about its wholeness, which is why Mill emphasizes the importance of open-mindedness.

Nowhere is this more applicable than in the religious mindset, specifically in the steadfast moral and doctrinal infallibility that accompanies a belief in God. Religious intolerance has historically been a continual problem, not simply among the persecutions by secular governments, but between religions and factions. The superstition and prejudice between parties has put truth in a combative state, each group always arguing for the higher ground of absolute truth. “. . .[I]t made men burn magicians and heretics.” (6) But Mill believes that defenders of the truth do not have to be so defensive. After all, just because one believes he is right does not mean he cannot even listen to those who he believes is wrong. “In the case of any person whose judgment is really deserving of confidence, how has it become so? Because he has kept his mind open to criticism of his opinions and conduct. Because it has been his practice to listen to all that could be said against him; to profit by as much of it as was just, and expound to himself, and upon occasion to others, the fallacy of what was fallacious.” (17) Open-mindedness is not a disintegration - it is a virtue!