On opinion, freedom of speech and its responsibilities

Plato and Aristotle place opinion intermediate between knowledge and ignorance with all opinions under the suspicion of error. Kant summarized that opinion is a consciously insufficient judgement, subjectively and objectively. Belief is subjectively sufficient, but is recognized as being objectively...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Microbial biotechnology 2022-10, Vol.15 (10), p.2507-2517
Main Author: Brüssow, Harald
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Climate change
COVID-19
Fever
Immunization
Knowledge
Lilliput
Pandemics
Philosophy
Politics
Public health
Science
Scientists
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2
Speech
Speeches
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Summary:Plato and Aristotle place opinion intermediate between knowledge and ignorance with all opinions under the suspicion of error. Kant summarized that opinion is a consciously insufficient judgement, subjectively and objectively. Belief is subjectively sufficient, but is recognized as being objectively insufficient. Only knowledge is subjectively and objectively sufficient. Despite this philosophically doubtful value of opinions, thinkers such as Milton, Locke, Montesquieu and Mill maintain that the freedom of opinion and speech are the basis of open societies but find limits when it represents a definite risk of damage, either to an individual or to the public. Also the UN Covenant on Civil and Political Rights proclaims the right to hold opinions without interference provided that it respects the rights or reputations of others and does not interfere with the protection of public health. Hate speech and propaganda for war are expressively prohibited. Postwar US politicians formulated the position that every man has a right to his own opinion, but no man has a right to be wrong in his facts. The impact of this discussion on opinions about control measures of the COVID‐19 pandemic is explored in this editorial.
ISSN:1751-7915
1751-7915
DOI:10.1111/1751-7915.14119