The Paradox of Tolerance

[Pierce Manhammer]

Given the types of conversations that often pop up here between forum members I thought I’d post about the paradox of tolerance:

Unlimited tolerance must lead to the disappearance of tolerance. If we extend unlimited tolerance even to those who are intolerant, if we are not prepared to defend a tolerant society against the onslaught of the intolerant, then the tolerant will be destroyed, and tolerance with them. — In this formulation, I do not imply, for instance, that we should always suppress the utterance of intolerant philosophies; as long as we can counter them by rational argument and keep them in check by public opinion, suppression would certainly be unwise. But we should claim the right to suppress them if necessary even by force; for it may easily turn out that they are not prepared to meet us on the level of rational argument, but begin by denouncing all argument; they may forbid their followers to listen to rational argument, because it is deceptive, and teach them to answer arguments by the use of their fists or pistols. We should therefore claim, in the name of tolerance, the right not to tolerate the intolerant.

 

[Plinco]

This is an issue of self-respect and enforcing standards. It is important to know rational ethics, but I do not tolerate irrationality unless it's either a customer that I deal with for a minute or two or if it comes from the government.

 

[zekko]

Seems to me people who most loudly promote tolerance are not actually interested in tolerance at all, they just have a particular political axe to grind or promote. Or to put it another way, they believe in tolerance, but only for those who think exactly the way they do.