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2007- The Invention of Tolerance - Maimonides, Averroes, Las Casas, Voltaire and Lincoln
Saturday, September 8, 2007 Although human beings have had an ethical inclination to accept “the other” and his differences throughout time, the notion of tolerance has its own history, one that is strongly linked to the vicissitudes of thought regarding human diversity. Tolerance is certainly a modern invention, with its origin dating back to the religious wars that ravaged Europe in the 16th century. The Edict of Nantes, which put an end to these wars, marked for the first time public and political recognition of the necessity of establishing a modus vivendi designated as “tolerance.” This notion, however, surpassed the manner in which the term was understood at the time— which only later became a synonym for respect and mutual recognition, as we understand it today. It was indeed likely that tolerance was practiced in a variety of ways before being explicitly defined and formulated at the dawn of modern Europe. We will examine today the model of society set forth by the medieval Andalusians, which evokes an experience of outward otherness linked to the discovery of the Americas, an experience perhaps as important as that of inner difference illustrated by the religious schisms. The ethical and philosophical foundations of the concept of tolerance were already inherent in the works of thinkers such as Averroes or Maimonides. More recently, the Calas case or the abolition of slavery by Abraham Lincoln provide examples for further reflection. In each instance, the question of limits of what is tolerable and intolerable arises. At a time when our democratic governments are confronted with the challenges of multiculturalism and religious fundamentalisms, looking back at key figures in the long history of tolerance becomes essential in order to examine the conditions for “living together” with a pluralistic mindset that overcomes the tendency toward indifference. If tolerance is to be seen as an active principle with effective results rather than being reduced to a mere precautionary principle, it must be embodied in situations and individuals. The history of tolerance and the events that comprise it must not overshadow the steadfast and at times tragic commitment of the men and women whose loyalty to this concept stirred them to fight against the moral inertia and numbness of their times. Behind the Calas case, for example, resounds Voltaire’s vibrant advocacy; against a different backdrop, Bartholomé Las Casas and Abraham Lincoln likewise rebelled against the barbarisms of their time. What is the source of this ethical drive toward tolerance? What are the means to concretely develop the desire and inclination to act in this manner? And how can we discern the proper role and place of tolerance in our modern times? These fundamental questions are rekindled in the light of those who toil in the shadows, those “unknown soldiers” of tolerance who set an example through their personal actions. Beyond a tribute to the courage of the great figures in the history of tolerance, then, this Sixth Day of Human Solidarity wishes to build upon this history by reviving these questions in the context of our modern times.
Under the Esteemed Patronage of:
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