Justifying State Toleration of Diversity and Dissent
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Date
1992-06
Authors
Newman, Sandra
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Oregon
Abstract
Attempts to justify toleration usually utilize moral arguments based on respecting the agency of, or preventing harm to, an individual. These arguments provide a sufficient but not a necessary reason for powerful states to tolerate a diverse and dissenting populous. Provided a state is interested in promoting non-violence, I claim that, because political controversy increases tolerance and decreases violence, toleration of all non-violent diversity and dissent is incumbent upon a state. This argument also justifies state intolerance of violent dissent, where violence is either threatened or manifest.
Description
144 pages
Keywords
philosophy, toleration, autonomy-based justification, state intolerance, internal connection, unified peace, political toleration