Liberal Tolerance for an Intolerant Age

Abstract: In agreement with Bryan Garsten's notion of liberalism as "refuge," liberal societies are distinct in their toleration of badness. They give people the permission and even the right to do wrong. Tolerance, however, does not apply to that to which we are indifferent or to that which we approve of. True tolerance involves the refusal to police bad or defective behaviors, and it therefore makes liberal political movements inherently fragile. Even so, tolerance and "refuge" are essential because people, especially the powerful, cannot be trusted to police the right people, on the right occasions, with the right force.