Single Idea 21487

[catalogued under 25. Social Practice / A. Freedoms / 3. Free speech]

Full Idea

Freedom of the press must be regarded as a permit to sell poison. …I very much fear, therefore, that the dangers of press freedom outweigh its usefulness.

Gist of Idea

The freedom of the press to sell poison outweighs its usefulness

Source

Arthur Schopenhauer (Parerga and Paralipomena [1851], IX:127)

Book Reference

Schopenhauer,Arthur: 'Essays and Aphorisms [from Pand P]', ed/tr. Hollingdale,R.J. [Penguin 1970], p.152


A Reaction

On the whole the modern world disagrees with this view, but watching the popular press in Britain in the last twenty years has made me sympathise with Schopenhauer.