6.3.6 Tolerance: Popularity Doesn't Equal Correctness (John Stuart Mill)

Tolerance in Liberal Thought

Marketplace of Ideas:

In his classic text On Liberty (1859), John Stuart Mill famously argued:

"if all mankind minus one, were of one opinion, and only one person were of the contrary opinion, mankind would be no more justified in silencing that one person than he - if he had the power - would be justified in silencing mankind."

Equal Moral Worth and Experiments in Living

• Fundamental Equality: Liberals hold that every individual has equal moral worth, which means that everyone should be afforded the same rights and opportunities. This belief underpins the liberal commitment to tolerance, as it requires respecting the choices and autonomy of others, even when they differ from one's own.

• Experiments in Living: Mill famously championed the idea of "experiments in living," where individuals are free to pursue their own unique paths in life. According to Mill, this diversity of lifestyles enriches society by allowing people to explore and realize their potential. As long as no harm is done to others, a liberal society should welcome a wide range of personal choices, no matter how unconventional or eccentric they may seem.

The Embrace of Diversity

• Lifestyle Choices: Liberals celebrate the right of individuals to make their own choices and live according to their values. This includes personal decisions and broader cultural practices. The liberal philosophy supports the idea that society benefits from a variety of ways of living, provided that these choices do not harm others.

• Cultural Pluralism: Liberals are generally comfortable within multi-ethnic and multicultural societies, where individuals and groups are free to maintain and express their distinct cultural identities. However, this tolerance has limits; it must align with core liberal principles, particularly regarding the prevention of harm. For instance, while liberals support the right to cultural expression, they also endorse laws that protect individuals from practices like forced marriages or female genital mutilation (FGM), as these are seen as coercive and contrary to individual autonomy.

The Limits of Tolerance

• Tolerating the Intolerable: While liberals are committed to tolerance, they do not extend this tolerance to actions or ideas that threaten the rights and freedoms of others. For example, freedom of speech is a fundamental liberal value, but it does not include the right to incite hatred or violence against others. This distinction is crucial in ensuring that tolerance does not become self-destructive by permitting the intolerable.

• Private vs. Public Sphere: Mill emphasized that while illiberal thoughts may be tolerated, they must not lead to harmful actions. The government should not interfere in private beliefs or conversations unless they result in actions that harm others. This idea underscores the importance of a private sphere, free from government intrusion, where individuals can express their thoughts and ideas without fear of state surveillance.

Tolerance in the Digital Age

• Cyberspace and Privacy: The challenge of applying liberal tolerance in the digital age is significant. Liberals must balance the need to protect society from harm, such as terrorism or hate speech online, with the need to respect individual privacy. For instance, while it is legitimate for the state to monitor online activity to prevent violence, it must also protect the rights of whistleblowers and activists who expose government wrongdoing.

• Balancing Security and Freedom: The dilemma for liberal democracies is to find a balance between ensuring public safety and upholding the right to privacy. Figures like Edward Snowden and Julian Assange have highlighted the tension between government secrecy and the public's right to know. A truly liberal society must navigate these issues carefully to maintain both security and individual freedoms.

Tolerance as a Liberal Virtue

• Forbearance and Diversity: Tolerance involves a willingness to accept and even embrace the vast diversity of human life. For liberals, this diversity is not just a fact of life but a positive good, reflecting the individualism at the heart of their ideology. Exposure to different ways of living and thinking is seen as beneficial, fostering a richer, more dynamic society.

• Marketplace of Ideas: Mill's idea of a "marketplace of ideas" is central to liberal tolerance. In a liberal democracy, the free exchange of ideas allows society to test and refine beliefs, leading to greater truth and understanding. Mill argued that even if the vast majority of people hold one opinion, it does not justify silencing a dissenting voice. The right to challenge and question prevailing views is essential to progress and must be protected, no matter how unpopular the opinion might be.