A statement by Thomas Mann, but what does it mean? In today’s talk about morality and ethics, toleration often figures as an unusually respected virtue. It is extolled in academies, enshrined in legal systems, and celebrated as the hallmark of enlightened societies. Yet like any virtue, tolerance has limits too. When extended to acts or ideologies that fundamentally undermine human dignity and justice, tolerance can devolve into complicity. This paradox—when tolerance becomes a crime—raises profound questions about the boundaries of this ideal and its role in shaping a just society
The essence of tolerance
Tolerance originates from recognizing and respecting diversity. It embodies the readiness to embrace varying opinions, beliefs, and practices, particularly in instances where they may oppose one’s own views. At its most effective, tolerance encourages discourse, enhances comprehension, and mitigates conflict. It acts as a unifying force in communities, guaranteeing that contrasting perspectives can exist harmoniously without descending into disorder.
However, tolerance should not be an end. Its purpose is to create a sense of harmony and mutual respect. When this distinction becomes blurred, the very principle of tolerance risks being misused, acting as a protection for destructive forces.
The dangers linked to misplaced tolerance
Throughout history, there have been many examples of misplaced tolerance: the appeasement policies pursued in the 1930s where leaders of the world, driven by the desire to prevent dissent, literally ignored the rise of fascist authorities and in this way let the unacceptable develop and grow until it resulted in the events of World War II. This grim lesson underscores the risk entailed by toleration of ideologies and behaviours that contravene the basic principles of humanity.
In modern times, the term tolerance has been hijacked to dampen resistance to harmful practices or beliefs. When the notion of tolerance is used to defend the indefensible be it in the guise of cultural relativism, political correctness, or religious freedom-it ceases to be a moral virtue and instead becomes an apparatus that serves to maintain injustice and give offenders immunity from consequences.
Establishing boundaries: tolerance in relation to complicity
The difficulty is knowing when tolerance ends and complicity begins. Philosopher Karl Popper’s “paradox of tolerance” gives us a useful framework. Popper held that unlimited tolerance leads to the disappearance of tolerance. If a society tolerates the intolerant, the intolerant will eventually destroy the conditions necessary for tolerance to exist. Thus, a tolerant society must reserve the right to deny tolerance to those who preach intolerance.
While this principle is fundamentally valid in theory, its application is laden with intricacies. Who holds the authority to define intolerance? In what manner can we ascertain that the disapproval of specific ideas or actions does not transform into oppression? These inquiries require meticulous consideration; however, they do not undermine the imperative of establishing limits.
The ethical obligation to act
When faced with evil, whether it is systemic oppression, violence, or ideologies of dehumanization against others, tolerance is not neutral. Choosing to be tolerant of such acts, in practice literally means choosing to be a bystander. As history has demonstrated, the price of inaction can be as ruinous as the price of action.
An example is the issue of human trafficking. Tolerating exploitative practices in the name of respecting cultural traditions or economic imperatives is to turn a blind eye to the suffering of millions. Similarly, allowing hate speech to hide behind free expression could also fuel discrimination and violence against societies. The unwillingness to intervene is equated to an allowance for its continuation.
Tolerance and justice:
Correcting the wrong tolerance should not be done by being intolerant, but by seeking justice. A just society is one in which there is respect for the intrinsic worth and dignity of every individual. It recognizes that tolerance must be accompanied by accountability and that the entitlement to freedom of expression or belief does not encompass actions that inflict harm upon others.
Justice requires a proactive stance towards evil. This statement by no means suggests a tit-for-tat reaction in every case of perceived misconduct; it rather calls upon the fostering of an atmosphere in which harmful ideologies and practices are challenged through education, positive engagement, and where applicable, legal action. This involves taking an unbending stand against hatred even when it is couched in the language of traditions or beliefs.
The function of people and organizations
The realization of the true goals of tolerance is tied to both individuals and institutions. For individuals, this means fostering critical thinking and moral strength. It asks people to question the sanctioned tales of harm and to actively oppose silence toward injustices. For institutions, it would mean creating policies and frameworks that uphold the principles of justice while protecting the rights of all. This would include enforcing anti-discrimination laws, promoting inclusive education, and holding perpetrators of harm accountable. It would also mean resisting the temptation to conflate tolerance with permissiveness, recognizing that true tolerance does not shy away from difficult conversations or decisions.
Conclusion
Tolerance is a cornerstone of civilized society, but it is not an absolute virtue. Applied indiscriminately, it can become a crime that allows evil to flourish unchecked. To prevent this, we must exercise tolerance with discernment, tempering it with the imperatives of justice and accountability. The burden of maintaining this balance is large, and yet it is necessary. On a world stage, dramatically divided and replete with conflict, the impulse toward tolerance must not undermine the need for actions against evil intent. Only by speaking up about the intolerable can we create a society with real tolerance—that is based on respect, empathy, and justice.
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