Mill’s On Liberty Chapters II and III

Ground 1: Possible Truth

Silencing an opinion may suppress truth; to do so assumes our own infallibility.

Ground 2: Partial Truth

False opinions may still contain part of the truth; truth emerges through clash of ideas.

Ground 3: Living Understanding

Even true beliefs become “dead dogma” without challenge; we lose rational grasp of them.

Ground 4: Vital Belief & Action

Without opposition, beliefs become rote and lose power to guide meaningful action

Dead Dogma

A belief held without understanding its reasons or ability to act on it meaningfully.

Individuality

Essential for human development; people should choose and live out their own “plan of life.”

Experiments in Living

Society should permit diverse ways of life to test and discover their worth.

Perfectionism (in Liberty)

Liberty fosters intellectual, moral, and personal growth—Mill’s deeper ethical goal.

Human Nature as a Tree

People must grow organically, not conform mechanically; development requires freedom.

Mill’s Deeper Focus

Despite claiming utility as his foundation, Mill in Ch. III emphasizes perfection over pleasure.