Tolerance is not unlimited. Its limits are determined by limitations of freedom to choose own worldview. Unfortunately, in today’s world millions of people, despite the fact they tolerate others of opposite worldviews, are persecuted for their independent views.
In The Open Society and its Enemies, K.R. Popper states that "unlimited tolerance must lead to the disappearance of tolerance... We must therefore claim, in the name of tolerance, the right not to tolerate intolerance".
For Popper, the limit lies in violence; as long as any intolerant ideas or opinions could be countered through discursive or educational tools - what he called rational arguments - they should not be censored. Coercion and violence are then the limit, since in freedom, dialogue, debate and respect are always in the foreground. Karl Popper summed up his theory in a single sentence: "We must therefore claim, in the name of tolerance, the right not to tolerate intolerance".
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They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety.
Benjamin Franklin
The triumph of persuasion over force is the sign of a civilized society.
Mark Skousen
Liberty is not a means to a political end. It is itself the highest political end. Lord Acton
A very sensitive topic you raised. Very sad though very important too.
To begin with I take from Stephens given quotation "Karl Popper summed up his theory in a single sentence: "We must therefore claim, in the name of tolerance, the right not to tolerate intolerance".", absolutely right.
My phrase is: Art of tolerance is to know what is tolerable, I phrased in the terrorism rose era as I agree to 'war on terror'.
Tolerance has clear line of what is merciful what isn't. The term punishment is in justice. Punishment is must as and where needed to serve the justice. We seek to make just world, for UK it we must redefine the punishment essentiality, not utterance of tolerance to be enforced upon.
For time being, Regards,
Fatema Miah
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