Stop misusing Popper’s ‘Paradox of Tolerence’ in free speech debates.
You probably have seen this image used online whenever someone, usually on the progressive left, wants to counter someone arguing for more unrestricted free speech laws:
There is a huge problem with it, as it totally changes Popper’s argument, and argues something that Popper himself did not. In fact, it has nothing to do with Popper’s argument. Popper was specifically talking about violence that was being used to suppress debate, from those unwilling to debate ideas.
Popper’s claim was that people who refused “to meet us on the level of rational argument” and could not be reasoned with rationally through speech, were a threat to tolerance. Popper was against those who refused to debate their ideas, who “begin by denouncing all argument; they may forbid their followers to listen to rational argument”.
Here is his full qoute:
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. — In this formulation, I do not imply, for instance, 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 by public opinion, suppression would certainly be unwise. But we should claim the right to suppress them if necessary even by force; for it may easily turn out that they are not prepared to meet us on the level of rational argument, but begin by denouncing all argument; they may forbid their followers to listen to rational argument, because it is deceptive, and teach them to answer arguments by the use of their fists or pistols. We should therefore claim, in the name of tolerance, the right not to tolerate the intolerant.
As you can see this is a very different argument than the cartoon gives us. Popper is clearly referring to those who refuse to debate their ideas, and instead want to use violence and force to supress debate and speech.
So instead, Popper’s paradox is actually more closely referring to those of the who are trying to shut down debate and free speech by force, and no-platform in the name of tolerance - This is exactly the type of behavoir Popper warned of!
Popper would not be on the side of the anti-free speechers, as they are practising the kind of intolerence toward debate and speech he warned of. No platforming, and limiting debate, or ‘forbidding’ people to engage in debate, is exactly what he is talking about.
The only paradox these people are displaying, is the paradox of them using Poppper’s paradox.
(edit 30/8/2021: using the term ‘leftist’ in this post seems to have angered people. The comic was made by leftist mexican pop culture company. But this is nothing to do with left or right, I dont care. I am not trying to own the libs. I mentioned it only because it is a fact, that this comic meme is made and posted overwhelmingly by people on the left in f.s debates. Not a judgement, a fact. )
