Sticks and Stones

<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title> <jats:p>Many free-speech advocates find inspiration in John Stuart Mill’s classic work On Liberty, which advocates what this chapter labels a “big tent” approach to free speech, where the best antidote to bad speech is more speech. But in an era where disinformation can be easily created and rapidly disseminated, Mill’s arguments seem less convincing. This chapter defends the big tent view against two main challenges: that truth is not the only value, and that more speech doesn’t necessarily lead to more truth. This chapter makes the case that a consistent institutional commitment to the big tent approach provides our best chance at getting at truth, and is more persuasive besides.</jats:p>