Political protests, debates on college campuses, and social media
tirades make it seem like everyone is speaking their minds today.
Surveys, however, reveal that many people increasingly feel like they're
walking on eggshells when communicating in public. Speaking your mind
can risk relationships and professional opportunities. It can alienate
friends and anger colleagues. Isn't it smarter to just put your head
down and keep quiet about controversial topics?
In this book, Hrishikesh Joshi offers a novel defense of speaking your
mind. He explains that because we are social creatures, we never truly
think alone. What we know depends on what our community knows. And by
bringing our unique perspectives to bear upon public discourse, we
enhance our collective ability to reach the truth on a variety of
important matters.
Speaking your mind is also important for your own sake. It is essential
for developing your own thinking. And it's a core aspect of being
intellectually courageous and independent. Joshi argues that such
independence is a crucial part of a well-lived life.
The book draws from Aristotle, John Stuart Mill, Friedrich Nietzsche,
Bertrand Russell, and a range of contemporary thinkers to argue that
it's OK to speak your mind.
Key Features
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- Shows that we have not just a right but a moral duty to publicly
share what we know.
- Argues that discussing your unique ideas with others is essential
for developing as a critical thinker.
- Explores the value of intellectual honesty and independence in the
writings of John Stuart Mill and Friedrich Nietzsche and connects
their thinking to contemporary problems.
- Argues that avoiding cultural blind spots today is important for the
fate of future generations.
