Wiki - The paradox of tolerance states that if a society is tolerant without limit, its ability to be tolerant is eventually ceased or destroyed by the intolerant. Karl Popper described it as the seemingly self-contradictory idea that in order to maintain a tolerant society, the society must retain the right to be intolerant of intolerance.

  • Gorilladrums
    1·
    1 year ago

    A lot of people are unfortunately dumb enough to misinterpret this concept as a justification to push authoritarianism. You see these people a lot on Lemmy. They view this paradox as an excuse to punish and silence opposition under the pretense that they’re intolerant. Like no, you’re not fighting intolerance with these tactics, you are the intolerance that needs to be fought. Not tolerating the intolerant doesn’t mean abandoning all your principles and going full on 1984.