The Tolerant Individual

Objection - view that we believe that x is morally objectionable or wrong.

Acceptance - although x is wrong, I have the view that others may do it.

Rejection - Reasons to reject x. Must be stronger than our reasons for accepting it.

DIFFERENT FROM...

Indulgence - allow or encourage x to be carried out. e.g. We believe that eating meat is okay, and we eat meat, we cannot be tolerant of people eating meat.

Indifferent - don’t care either way. e.g. We may not have a judgment on something, e.g. euthanasia, but we don’t care if it happens or not.

Weakness - unable to do anything about a moral objection. Many Germans in Nazi Germany may have felt this way.

ARE TOLERANCE AND OFFENSIVENESS INCOMPATIBLE

Offensive behaviour is different to forceful or harmful behaviour. We may offend somebody about the topic of x, but we aren’t making them act differently, so it isn’t compatible with tolerance.

A tolerant individual may not be offensive. It shows a disrespectful nature towards what they are tolerant of, incompatible with offensive behaviour.

Intentionally offensive. Ignorant of certain customs is intolerant.

Could be responded that if somebody is unaware they are causing offense, they can still be tolerant. The offense caused wasn’t there intention so they can’t be accountable for it.

Tolerant people should have a good awareness of how to engage with others. If they do something that is commonly know to be offensive and they do it, then we may question whether they are tolerant or not.

IS THERE A DISTINCTION BETWEEN HARM AND OFFENCE?

Mill says there is - psychological and physical acts.

However,…