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Now, what is the cognitive ability required to not only understand and be tolerant of other political points of view, but also recognize that this has limits, first and best highlighted by Karl Popper’s Paradox of Tolerance [0].

"Less well known is the paradox of tolerance: unlimited tolerance must lead to the disappearance of tolerance. If we extend unlimited tolerance even to those who are intolerant, if we are not prepared to defend a tolerant society against the onslaught of the intolerant, then the tolerant will be destroyed, and tolerance with them..."

And managing this paradox of tolerance requires even higher cognitive load than simply being absolutely tolerant, but constant judgements, and maintaining stability on a very 'slippery slope'.

[0] https://www.politicalempathyproject.org/blog-posts/karl-popp...



It's not a paradox, it's a contradiction. The "open society" is a closed circuit.


That should probably be taken up with Popper, who named the thing. ;-)

Yes it is a self-contradicting property of an open society, 'tho I'm not sure that rules out it being a paradox either/also.




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