Tolérance

Tolérance refers to the capacity to endure or the willingness to permit the existence of opinions, practices, or identities that differ from one’s own. In technical use, tolerance denotes the allowable variation from a specified value or standard.

The term derives from Latin tolerantia, through Old French tolerance. Historically, it carried meanings of endurance and forbearance, later expanding to the social and ethical domain.

In pluralist societies, tolerance is the practice of allowing coexistence of diverse beliefs and lifestyles, while upholding core rights. It does not require endorsement of all views and may require limiting expressions that threaten the rights or safety of others.

Religious tolerance has been a central pillar in many historical developments, including the Edict of Nantes (1598) and subsequent moves toward freedom of conscience and worship. These ideas contributed to the emergence of secular states and modern human rights frameworks that protect individuals from discrimination on the basis of belief, identity, or expression.

Types of tolerance include cultural, political, and civic tolerance. Challenges arise in balancing liberty with equality, addressing discrimination, and managing tensions between freedom of expression and protection from harm or hate.

In engineering and manufacturing, tolerance defines the permissible deviation from a target dimension or specification. Tolerances are specified on drawings and standards to ensure interoperability, quality, and cost control.

The paradox of tolerance, discussed by Karl Popper, notes that a tolerant society should resist permitting intolerant ideologies to dominate, in order to maintain a tolerant order. Related topics include human rights, secularism, and standards in engineering.