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‘Vision of One World’

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Hardin has presented a credible argument against the desirability of a One World state. The one startling quotation he marshaled in defense of his argument, however, would have been best left nestled in the dusty attic of history. The lines were those of John Milton: “Let Truth and Falsehood grapple, for ‘who ever knew Truth put to the worse in a free and open encounter?’ ” Surely no one who has examined the history of ideas could make such an assertion; in fact, no one who has left his typewriter and met “the common man” could honestly hold such an idea.

Moreover, most of the issues that concern us, the grand issues that determine the fate of nations and the small issues of day-to-day life, cannot be reduced to truth and falsehood.

This is not to argue against free speech; but please, let us defend it for what it is, without exhorting unwarranted claims.

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BLANCHE THOMA

Lake Forest

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