If heretics feel reticent to discuss the consequences of their dissent there is never any fair and thorough discussion of heretical opinions and we miss out on the possibility that something of value might arise from such discussion. We are then the poorer for that. It is our loss. As John Stuart Mill said,

“But it is not the minds of heretics that are deteriorated most by the ban placed on all inquiry which does not end in the orthodox conclusions. The greatest harm done is to those who are not heretics, and whose mental development is cramped, and their reason cowed, by the fear of heresy.  Who can compute what the world loses in the multitude of promising intellects combined with timid characters, who dare not follow out any bold, vigorous, independent train of thought, lest it should land them in something which would admit of being considered irreligious or immoral? … No one can be a great thinker who does not recognize, that as a thinker it is his first duty to follow his intellect to whatever conclusions it may lead.  Truth gains more even by the errors of one who, with due study and preparation, thinks for himself, than by the true opinions of those who only hold them because they do not suffer themselves to think.”

We need our rebels, mavericks, and dissenters. We don’t need more people that just agree with us.

Yet Mill acknowledges, “Not that it is solely or chiefly to form great thinkers that freedom of thinking is required. On the contrary, it is as much and even more indispensable to enable average human beings to attain the mental stature which they are capable of.” This is extremely important! Freedom of discussion and thought is crucial for ordinary people, not just great intellects. People like me. People like you. We must be free from constraint—social or legal—to think freely in order for each of us to be the best that we can be. If we allow ourselves to be cowed, we will not be the best we can be. Our “mental development will be cramped.”  For years, I kept my religious views to myself or to a small circle of compatible thinkers. This was a huge mistake! I allowed my mental development to be cramped! I am now horrified of what I have done. I will never be a great thinker, but until I free myself to speak and think and debate freely I will not be the best thinker I can be.

Each of us must break the yoke of authority, even authority with “mere” social power, for that is often the most pernicious power. We have to break out so that we can become the best it is possible for us to be. If we don’t do this, we choose to accept a second-rate self—a poor and paltry thing. And, of course, as Mill argues, all of us will lose out. We all need the heretics!