The Paradox of Tolerance by Karl Popper

A must read excerpt for all Hindus who are striving to preserve Sanatan Dharam in face of challenges posed by forces of anarchy.

Karl Popper was one of the most influential philosophers of science in 20th century. He made contributions to debates concerning scientific methods and theory choice, demarcation of science from non science, probability and quantum mechanics and methods of social sciences (1)

Unlimited tolerance must lead to 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 intolerant, then the tolerant will be destroyed, and tolerance with them (2)

In his formulation, he does not imply, for that we should always suppress the utterance of intolerant philosophies as long as we can counter them by rational argument and keep them in check via public opinion (3)

However we should claim the right to suppress them if necessary by any means for it may turn out, they are not prepared to meet us on the level of rational argument, may forbid their followers to listen to rational argument, and teach them to answer our arguments by violence (4)

Hence we should claim, in the name of tolerance, the right not to tolerate the intolerant. We should claim that any movement preaching intolerance places itself outside the law, and we should consider incitement to intolerance and persecution as criminal and unacceptable. (5)

Source: The Open Society and its Enemies (Book) by Sir Karl Raimund Popper.