3 ms·
People cite the headline of the "paradox of intolerance" without bothering to ingest the actually much more moderate idea behind it. "I do not imply, for insta
by wonttowont 3y ago
People cite the headline of the "paradox of intolerance" without bothering to ingest the actually much more moderate idea behind it.
"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 most 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."
As much as you or I may disagree with them, it's totally absurd to claim that The Right (in the U.S.) is attempting to suppress The Left's arguments by "fists or pistols" when The Left is in the majority and most influential in almost all forms of media.
So the idea that The Left should be suppressing The Right under the principle of the "paradox of tolerance" is something Karl Popper called "most unwise" and that's putting it very mildly.
- AlexandrB 3y ago> As much as you or I may disagree with them, it's totally absurd to claim that The Right (in the U.S.) is attempting to suppress The Left's arguments by "fists or pistols" when The Left is in the majority and most influential in almost all forms of media. ??? It's the right that's encouraging people to show up with guns at LGBTQ events[1] and passing laws (enforced by an entity that has a monopoly on legal violence) effectively banning discussion of trans issues. The idea that "the left" has cultural dominance so it should be "anything goes" for right wing opinions is absurd. [1] https://apnews.com/article/entertainment-eugene-oregon-education-c18fdac0c1f8ca137e98fb92c1d5eafe https://apnews.com/article/entertainment-eugene-oregon-educa...
- wonttowont 3y agoOne can easily point to examples of armed protesters on The Left. But in no case is any group in the U.S. in a position to use force to prevent the other side from broadcasting their opinions. The Right has Fox News and a few other things while The Left dominates almost all other media. It's just completely laughable to argue that The Left is not getting a chance to "counter them by rational argument" If The Right is winning some debates, and getting bad laws passed, that's just a reason for The Left to do a better job convincing people. We're not living in 1920s Germany. There's absolutely no excuse to resort to suppression, as that would be "most unwise" according to the very guy who put forth the "paradox of tolerance" idea that people love to simplify and distort.
- etchalon 3y agoThere are people who show up to drag shows, armed. They are not usually "on the left".