Characteristics of Tolerance[edit]

The book The Truth about Tolerance[3] describes ten truths of tolerance. They are paraphrased here: 1. Tolerance is a patience toward a practice or opinion you disapprove of Tolerance is being agreeablelistening carefully and treating the person with dignity and respect while you disagree. You continue a critical analysis of all you know and believe to be true, in light of the different viewpoint expressed by the person you disagree with. In the best case each of you has learned from the other. In the end you may or may not be persuaded, yet because of your tolerance the relationship has been strengthened by your dialogue, not eroded by obstinacy or mistrust. Without disagreement there is not tolerance, only affirmation. As Voltaire famously said: I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it. 2. Tolerance has limitsTolerance is relevant to opinion, not fact. [4] The test of truth is its correspondence with reality, and when opinion meets face-to-face with reality, reality must ultimately prevail. Furthermore, erosion of the categorical moral imperatives is intolerable. Tolerating cruelty and brutality is abdication, not respect. 3. Tolerance allows for spirited and principled debateYour well-founded beliefs deserve to be heard, advocated, and vigorously debated. Expect them to be dissected, analyzed, questioned and criticized long before any consensus emerges. Identifying, examining, and resolving inconsistencies increase our understanding. Truth continues to be forged from critical consideration of dissent and new points of view. The skeptics help us all move forward, the demagogues do not. In addition, confronting destructive behavior is an act of compassion and courage, not brutality. Tolerance is essential in the realm of opinion, and has no place in the realm of fact.[1] Two types of errors, each a form of intolerance, become apparent: 1. Treating as fact what is indeed opinion, and 2. Dismissing fact as mere opinion. Sustaining and propagating these errors are the tools of tyrants and ideologues, bigots and racists. Discerning the distinction between fact and opinionthe essential skill of tolerancecan be difficult. It requires us to apply a robust theory of knowledge. Intolerance is the wrongful arrogation of power to force conformity.[2] Intolerance is the error in thinking that perpetuates hate.