Are individual opinions of value?

Opinions harm people because it encourages extreme and unconventional behaviors in society

Question: Are individual opinions of value?
Position‹2 of 2: No, individual opinions are not of value.
Argument1 of 2›: Opinions harm people because it encourages extreme and unconventional behaviors in society

Opposing opinions can create prejudices that harm people and society as a whole. Sexism, racism, classism, antisemitism, xenophobia, and homophobia were all started by opinions about a specific gender, race, etc... These opinions have caused hatred and injustice with different minority groups throughout history. Therefore, individual opinions are not of value because it encourages extreme and unconventional behaviors in society.

The argument

Opinions have caused a lot of trouble. Opinions have started fights, created unfit government leaders, and divide societies. An example of a leader who let their opinion ruin lives was Adolf Hitler. His anti-Semitic views existed before his time. Jewish people had been oppressed for their race and culture before World War 2. Today’s current society s severed by racism, sexism, and classism. If it wasn’t for the opposing opinions that started these problems, the world would be a better place.

Premises

[P1]Opinions have started fights, produced unfit leaders and divided societies, as when Adolf Hitler's anti-Semitic views helped fuel the oppression of Jewish people. [P2] Today's society remains severed by racism, sexism and classism — problems set in motion by opposing opinions — so without those opinions the world would be better. [C] Because opinions encourage extreme and harmful behaviour, individual opinions are not of value.

Counter-arguments

There is no way to stop anyone from having harmful opinions. Opinions are justified by the individual often without proof or facts. No one can control what another person thinks.

Rejecting the premises

[Rejecting P3] Not all opinions create prejudice.