Heterodox Out Loud

Heterodox Out Loud


Episode 20: Mill Still Matters Today: Free Speech in the 21st Century, Richard Reeves

September 02, 2021

With rising concerns around COVID-19 misinformation, election fraud claims, hate speech online and on-campus, many argue that traditional arguments for free speech are no longer sustainable.


Today’s blog, Mill Still Matters Today, is a defense of the values of John Stuart Mill — the most influential English language philosopher of the 19th century. His robust defense of personal liberty and free speech is a subject of fruitful debate today. The blog was written by Richard Reeves, a Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution and one of the world’s foremost scholars on John Stuart Mill. The episode includes an exclusive interview with Richard.


As mentioned in today’s episode: On October 13th, we will be hosting a riveting panel event, “Hyperconnected: Knowledge Production in the Age of Social Media.” Join us!


To engage deeper with these ideas, check out our related posts:




  1. Why Free Speech? by Jonathan Zimmerman




  2. Why Mill Matters More Than Ever: A Student Perspective by Noah Rosenfield




  3. Heterodox Academicians, Make Madison Your Model by Jonathan Rauch




This episode was hosted by Zach Rausch. The artwork was inspired by Reeves’ piece and was created by Lexi Polokoff. You can follow her on Instagram @lexipolokoffart