성문종합영어장문(명사2) 4

장문 4.

The democratic doctrine of freedom of speech and of the press, whether we regard it as a natural and inalienable right or not, rests upon certain assumptions.

One of these is that men desire to know the truth and will be disposed to be guided by it.

Another is that the sole method of arriving at the truth in the long run is by the free competition of opinion in the open market.

Another is that, since men will inevitably differ in their opinions, each man must be permitted to urge, freely and even strenuously, his own opinion, provided he accords to others the same right.

And the final assumption is that from this mutual tolerance and comparison of diverse opinions the one that seems the most rational will emerge and be generally accepted.