Latest news with #JohnStuartMill
Evening Standard
6 days ago
- Politics
- Evening Standard
There was more freedom of speech 2,500 years ago than in Britain today
It's hard to think of anyone who put the case for free speech better than John Stuart Mill in his work, On Liberty (1859): 'If all mankind minus one, were of one opinion, and only one person were of the contrary opinion, mankind would be no more justified in silencing that one person, than he, if he had the power, would be justified in silencing mankind…. If the opinion is right, they are deprived of the opportunity of exchanging error for truth: if wrong, they lose, what is almost as great a benefit, the clearer perception and livelier impression of truth, produced by its collision with error.' In other words, Mill makes the case especially for the protection of opinions that may be wrong, and at odds with the opinion of the majority.
Associated Press
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Associated Press
Author Mont Redmond Explores What GOD Means to Our Minds and Spirits in His New Book ‘Ideas Inspired by the Qur'an'
VICTORIA, British Columbia, July 14, 2025 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — Writer and independent thinker Mont Redmond is getting ready for controversy with his thought-provoking new book, 'Ideas Inspired by the Qur'an' (ISBN-10: 1738842509; Released January 2023). A deeply personal and intellectually engaging work, the book invites readers of all faiths, as well as agnostics and the non-religious, to reflect on enduring spiritual and philosophical questions through the lens of the Qur'an. Image caption: cover, 'Ideas Inspired by the Qur'an' by Mont Redmond. 'Ideas Inspired by the Qur'an' confronts universal concerns: the problem of evil, the rationality of faith, the limits of science, and the nature of reality. Redmond weaves together insights from Plato, Aristotle, Al-Ghazzālī, John Stuart Mill, and others, demonstrating how Qur'anic metaphysics can illuminate debates that have challenged humanity for millennia. 'This book was not meant to be a commentary on a religion,' says Redmond. 'I regard it, rather, as a way of overcoming the spiritual, intellectual, and emotional fissures between faith and thought, between a declining Western civilization and an Islamic world-view seen as ever more obsolete, and between the Qur'an and the human heart. The Qur'an not only builds bridges but also urges us to cross them.' The book speaks to Muslim readers seeking deeper engagement with their faith, to spiritual seekers navigating modernity, and to anyone wrestling with questions of existence and ultimate value. Through a series of candid, challenging, and unexpected reflections, Redmond guides readers to consider their place in the cosmos and their relationship with the Absolute. In keeping with his mission to encourage open inquiry and the exchange of ideas, Mont Redmond is offering the full book free to read at his website: Ideas Inspired by the Qur'an. About the Author: Mont Redmond, a Muslim living in Canada after spending nearly twenty years abroad, presently works as a translator and interpreter. His writing invites readers to reflect on the beliefs we live by, offering a broad and diverse range of subject matter. Aimed at academics, students, believers of all types, and those open to new perspectives, Redmond's work speaks to anyone seeking inspiration and thoughtful engagement with the deeper issues of faith and modernity. 'Ideas Inspired by the Qur'an' is available now through major online book retailers in Canada, the U.S., and internationally — and free to read online at BOOK SUMMARY Author: Mont Redmond Email: [email protected] ISBN-10: 1738842509 Released: January 2023 Available: Online book retailers (Canada, USA, International) and free at Publisher: Mont Redmond IMAGE link for media (book jacket): NEWS SOURCE: Author Mont Redmond Keywords: Books and Publishing, Author Mont Redmond, new book, nonfiction, Ideas Inspired by the Qur'an, publishing, VICTORIA, British Columbia This press release was issued on behalf of the news source (Author Mont Redmond) who is solely responsibile for its accuracy, by Send2Press® Newswire. Information is believed accurate but not guaranteed. Story ID: S2P127643 APNF0325A To view the original version, visit: © 2025 Send2Press® Newswire, a press release distribution service, Calif., USA. RIGHTS GRANTED FOR REPRODUCTION IN WHOLE OR IN PART BY ANY LEGITIMATE MEDIA OUTLET - SUCH AS NEWSPAPER, BROADCAST OR TRADE PERIODICAL. MAY NOT BE USED ON ANY NON-MEDIA WEBSITE PROMOTING PR OR MARKETING SERVICES OR CONTENT DEVELOPMENT. Disclaimer: This press release content was not created by nor issued by the Associated Press (AP). Content below is unrelated to this news story.
Yahoo
14-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Three Things That Just Aren't Worth It
By its very definition, 'waste' means using your time, money, and resources on things unlikely to return value. It's an opportunity cost. By inverse, skipping wasteful things spares you from those stupid headaches. You invite more happiness and efficiency into your life. In 2024, a friend announced on her Facebook feed, 'If you plan on voting for Biden, just unfriend me now!' Shortly thereafter, she appeared in a comment section, all-caps replying to people over election issues. Each comment got more corrosive and insulting. People were name-calling and going deep into bitter 37 reply threads. A week later, she made another post ranting, 'Facebook is so toxic. I have found out who my real friends are. Time to take a break from this place.' Yet she was the one who invited this toxicity into her feed. To be fair, we live in an important swing state (Florida). Tensions run extremely high during elections. I've seen friendships dissolve over elections that went well beyond clicking 'unfriend'. John Stuart Mill, the father of modern utilitarianism, once wrote, 'So long as an opinion is strongly rooted in the feelings, it gains rather than loses stability by having a preponderating weight of argument against it.' More plainly, Mill saw that emotion entrenched people's beliefs. He inferred, 100 years early, that internet arguments are futile. Without underlying respect, two people can never hope to convince each other of anything. And in the veil of internet anonymity, respect is fleeting. Let's face it: Most internet users are only interested in being right. So don't bother reasoning with them. It's like arguing with a drunk person. The funny thing? When I've gone to writer meetups, the nastiest, most aggressive online writers who argue 24–7 with readers, are often the shyest in real life. They are meek. They stand in the corner during cocktail hour, smiling and not saying anything. And so I say to you — is it really worth going through your day, angry about what a stranger said to you online? Just as so many people are banefully toxic, many of you keep these exact people in your everyday life. You reason with them. You give them second chances. They cheat on you once again. They flake on dinner plans. You get begged into trusting them and being their friend/partner again. Only to get burned, over, and over, and over again. I never thought I'd be one of those people who got burned and then was talked back into being friends with that person again. I was just reading about a woman and her abusive partner. She described going back to him repeatedly after he apologized. I sat reading the story pleading to myself for her to stop doing it, even though this story took place in the past and that she was now free. On paper, these decisions are always so easy, especially from the outside. There's no emotion or shared history to cloud your judgement. The healthiest thing I ever did was face this hard reality: just because I love and care about a person, doesn't mean they should be in my life. My open-door policy and being too forgiving were ruining me. I was losing my spine. I was becoming a person I hated, letting other people completely walk all over me. Walking away is one of the hardest things I've ever done. It hurts and feels like having a death in the family. But if you don't cut toxic out, they'll just bring more havoc to your life. You'll be looking back 10 years from now wondering why it took you so long to figure things out. This chapter should have been closed in middle school. The number of unintended pregnancies continues to hover around 50% in the United States. Granted there are very real needs around education and access to contraception—there's also quite a bit of willful ignorance at work, as I've seen firsthand. People continue to wing it on birth control, or opt out entirely, using highly unreliable methods that just create an enormous problem they have to contend with (women especially). My friend told me a interesting story. He was 18, and still in high school. He was parked in front of a pharmacy during a storm. He needed to buy condoms but was so embarrassed and scared to do it, worrying about being judged. He kept sitting there, delaying and delaying, watching the rain hitting his windshield. He tried to pretend the rain was the reason he couldn't go into the store. Then, he had an epiphany, and realized, 'If I am not mature enough to buy condoms, I should not be having sex.' I thought it was a rare and candid moment that you rarely hear from a person. It's never my goal to call an unintended child a 'problem'. However, these surprise babies create a world of other problems for people who aren't ready to be a parent. They end up co-parenting with someone they can't stand — or hardly knew. They end up in a legal battle over visitation. I see friends, still dealing with drama co-parenting a kid they had more than 10 years ago. And then there's the cost of daycare, food, and the infinite list of unexpected problems you have to squash each day. Every tiny aspect of your life is forever changed because you didn't spend a few extra bucks on protection. After my divorce, I was absolutely stunned by the number of single parents I saw on dating apps. It felt like 1 in 3. Every other profile was a car selfie with a kid in the backseat. Sure, it might feel good to break rules and be naughty. Just mark my words — there's a haunting feeling that sinks in later. The affirming question I try to repeat to myself with risky decisions is, 'Will I be glad I made this decision, hours, days, or months from this moment?' I don't always get it right. But it was that exact question that helped me quit smoking. I knew I'd never look back and think, 'I wish I'd just smoked for a few more years.' Life is full of wasteful activities. Avoid them and you'll be ahead of the pack. Getting tied up in internet debates. Just move on. Trying to save dying friendships and relationships. Cut out toxic people. Treating birth control like a game you can wing it with.
Yahoo
13-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Three Things That Just Aren't Worth It
By its very definition, 'waste' means using your time, money, and resources on things unlikely to return value. It's an opportunity cost. By inverse, skipping wasteful things spares you from those stupid headaches. You invite more happiness and efficiency into your life. In 2024, a friend announced on her Facebook feed, 'If you plan on voting for Biden, just unfriend me now!' Shortly thereafter, she appeared in a comment section, all-caps replying to people over election issues. Each comment got more corrosive and insulting. People were name-calling and going deep into bitter 37 reply threads. A week later, she made another post ranting, 'Facebook is so toxic. I have found out who my real friends are. Time to take a break from this place.' Yet she was the one who invited this toxicity into her feed. To be fair, we live in an important swing state (Florida). Tensions run extremely high during elections. I've seen friendships dissolve over elections that went well beyond clicking 'unfriend'. John Stuart Mill, the father of modern utilitarianism, once wrote, 'So long as an opinion is strongly rooted in the feelings, it gains rather than loses stability by having a preponderating weight of argument against it.' More plainly, Mill saw that emotion entrenched people's beliefs. He inferred, 100 years early, that internet arguments are futile. Without underlying respect, two people can never hope to convince each other of anything. And in the veil of internet anonymity, respect is fleeting. Let's face it: Most internet users are only interested in being right. So don't bother reasoning with them. It's like arguing with a drunk person. The funny thing? When I've gone to writer meetups, the nastiest, most aggressive online writers who argue 24–7 with readers, are often the shyest in real life. They are meek. They stand in the corner during cocktail hour, smiling and not saying anything. And so I say to you — is it really worth going through your day, angry about what a stranger said to you online? Just as so many people are banefully toxic, many of you keep these exact people in your everyday life. You reason with them. You give them second chances. They cheat on you once again. They flake on dinner plans. You get begged into trusting them and being their friend/partner again. Only to get burned, over, and over, and over again. I never thought I'd be one of those people who got burned and then was talked back into being friends with that person again. I was just reading about a woman and her abusive partner. She described going back to him repeatedly after he apologized. I sat reading the story pleading to myself for her to stop doing it, even though this story took place in the past and that she was now free. On paper, these decisions are always so easy, especially from the outside. There's no emotion or shared history to cloud your judgement. The healthiest thing I ever did was face this hard reality: just because I love and care about a person, doesn't mean they should be in my life. My open-door policy and being too forgiving were ruining me. I was losing my spine. I was becoming a person I hated, letting other people completely walk all over me. Walking away is one of the hardest things I've ever done. It hurts and feels like having a death in the family. But if you don't cut toxic out, they'll just bring more havoc to your life. You'll be looking back 10 years from now wondering why it took you so long to figure things out. This chapter should have been closed in middle school. The number of unintended pregnancies continues to hover around 50% in the United States. Granted there are very real needs around education and access to contraception—there's also quite a bit of willful ignorance at work, as I've seen firsthand. People continue to wing it on birth control, or opt out entirely, using highly unreliable methods that just create an enormous problem they have to contend with (women especially). My friend told me a interesting story. He was 18, and still in high school. He was parked in front of a pharmacy during a storm. He needed to buy condoms but was so embarrassed and scared to do it, worrying about being judged. He kept sitting there, delaying and delaying, watching the rain hitting his windshield. He tried to pretend the rain was the reason he couldn't go into the store. Then, he had an epiphany, and realized, 'If I am not mature enough to buy condoms, I should not be having sex.' I thought it was a rare and candid moment that you rarely hear from a person. It's never my goal to call an unintended child a 'problem'. However, these surprise babies create a world of other problems for people who aren't ready to be a parent. They end up co-parenting with someone they can't stand — or hardly knew. They end up in a legal battle over visitation. I see friends, still dealing with drama co-parenting a kid they had more than 10 years ago. And then there's the cost of daycare, food, and the infinite list of unexpected problems you have to squash each day. Every tiny aspect of your life is forever changed because you didn't spend a few extra bucks on protection. After my divorce, I was absolutely stunned by the number of single parents I saw on dating apps. It felt like 1 in 3. Every other profile was a car selfie with a kid in the backseat. Sure, it might feel good to break rules and be naughty. Just mark my words — there's a haunting feeling that sinks in later. The affirming question I try to repeat to myself with risky decisions is, 'Will I be glad I made this decision, hours, days, or months from this moment?' I don't always get it right. But it was that exact question that helped me quit smoking. I knew I'd never look back and think, 'I wish I'd just smoked for a few more years.' Life is full of wasteful activities. Avoid them and you'll be ahead of the pack. Getting tied up in internet debates. Just move on. Trying to save dying friendships and relationships. Cut out toxic people. Treating birth control like a game you can wing it with.
Economist
04-07-2025
- Politics
- Economist
Why the left gains nothing from pop stars' support
|4 min read The high priests of speaking out are John Stuart Mill, an English philosopher, and Martin Niemöller, a Lutheran pastor. 'Bad men need nothing more to compass their ends,' Mill warned, 'than that good men should look on and do nothing.' Niemöller famously ventriloquised the many Germans who kept silent when the Nazis 'came for the socialists', the trade unionists and the Jews: 'Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.'
