Tolerantside

Tolerantside is a term used in contemporary political philosophy to describe a stance that places tolerance at the center of public life. It refers to a normative position that seeks to extend civil liberties and equal rights to diverse beliefs and practices while drawing lines at conduct that causes direct harm to others or undermines the rights of minorities.

Etymology and scope: The word combines “tolerant” with “side” to signal a side in debates about the limits of tolerance—the camp that argues for expansive tolerance as a foundational political virtue. In scholarly use, tolerantside denotes frameworks that prioritize inclusive procedures and protections for expression, association, and belief, even when those beliefs are controversial or unpopular.

Core principles: Tolerantside emphasizes procedural tolerance (equal protection of speech and association) and substantive tolerance (protection from discrimination). It adopts a harm principle approach, allowing strong protections for dissent while drawing clear boundaries against conduct that directly harms others or promotes violent or oppressive acts. It treats ideas as distinct from actions, advocating that institutions should not privilege a single belief system but should safeguard individual rights and due process. Conditional tolerance may be viewed as appropriate when expressions threaten public safety or minority rights.

Applications: In law and public policy, tolerantside supports free speech protections, anti-discrimination measures, and inclusive civic processes. It informs debates on education, media regulation, and platform governance, promoting tolerance without tolerating coercion, intimidation, or incitement.

Criticism and debate: Critics argue that tolerantside can be vague about where to draw the line between acceptable dissent and harmful rhetoric, risking normalization of harmful ideologies or chilling effect. Proponents counter that a robust tolerance framework is essential for pluralist democracy and civic peace.