Paradox of tolerance
Paradox of tolerance
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.
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Not one that remains objective over time. In 1820 Atheism, and Homosexuality would be considered harmful; in 1920 Racial equality would have been considered harmful, as would Unionization. Imagine the things we consider harmful today that our descendants in 2120 will consider us barbaric for.
It's in the dictionary. Hasn't changed in a few hundred years.
Sodomy was once considered harm. Masturbation was once deemed to be "self abuse". Some people consider vaccination and masks to be harmful. Judaism was seen as harmful by interwar Germans.
The dictionary defines the word; it does not determine whether a particular act can be described by that word. Harm is subjective, and changes.
Yes, congratulations, you figured out what the other poster didn't. Shame you think you're disagreeing with me, but I'll take your unintended agreeance even if you don't have the comprehension to understand why. Nuance, only for the literate.
Ok. With this as context:
However it's perfectly legitimate to censor harmful ideas
Your acknowledgement that "Judaism" was once considered a "harmful idea" would seem to suggest you believe it is "perfectly legitimate to censor Judaism.
How are we not in disagreement?
I'd consider all religion to be built on a number of harmful ideas as they are figments of peoples imagination rather than objective reality and have been used for subjugation and control.
And I'd argue that it is legitimate to censor those.
You act like context and nuance are nothing more than thought experiments.
Ok. Same question, swapping homosexuality in place of judaism.
Then, same question again, but remembering that "evolution" was once considered a harmful idea.
Homosexuality harms people? Got any proof? Seems to me like homosexuality is harmed by religion.
Evolution harms people? Willful ignorance isn't being harmed.
You are developing a philosophical model for people to adopt. That model calls for the censoring of things that people seem to be "harmful".
At times in our history, certain people have, indeed, considered homosexuality to be "harmful".
If these people follow the philosophy you describe, these people should censor homosexuality. Is that your intent? Or is there a slight flaw in the philosophical model you have described?
Here is the definition used. Re-assess your understanding, and be specific. I can't give you a cognizant answer unless we're on the same page.
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/harm
In regards to homosexuality being considered harmful, there's a big difference between people's considerations and objective fact, that nuance is important.
Harm to oneself born of one's own intolerance is no ones issue but their own.
Intolerance is self harm.
Ok. I have re-read your definition again. I can work with this.
A group of people have observed a behavior that I may or may not have mentioned. This group of people has determined this behavior to be harmful. Should they censor it, or not? After you provide me with a definitive yes/no answer, I will tell you what that behavior was.
I don't know why you keep calling this "nuance"; it is not nuance. You are using that word incorrectly.
: to damage or injure physically or mentally : to cause harm
You don't think the definition of mental harm has changed over the last few hundred years?
Read the rest of the page, context is included.
The things that cause harm change, the definition of harm is constant, not all harm is equal.
Having read the rest of the thread I would like you to answer @[email protected] 's questions.
@[email protected], got caught up on two simple questions and lost their composure.
I disagree. He asked a question that gets to the heart of the question, given that the definition of what is "harmful" has changed over the years and will continue to change into the future; does OP support the censorship of the things it would have censored and the things it may censor in the future? It's a valid question and it core to the disagreement.
If OP doesn't care about the dangers of censorship that's fine, but they shouldn't act like you can allow censorship without the problems it has historically and will in the future cause.