>From: "Alex F. Bokov" <alexboko@umich.edu>
>Okay, here is a rephrased an simplified version of my question:
>
>Given that intolerant and absolutist memes can by definition exist
>within a tolerant and relativist society, but not vice versa, what
>strategies can the tolerant and relativist society use to survive?
>Will these strategies require it to relinquish some of its tolerance
>and relativism?
Here's an even simpler version of the trick question you are asking:
Can a tolerant person/society not tolerate intolerance and still be
considered tolerant? I think the obvious answer is "yes."
What strategies will it take? I think that's a simple one too. You simply
live and let live, until the intolerant person/society uses their liberty to
try to relieve you of yours. At that point you respond with something like,
oh say, operation "Enduring Freedom."
I think our aim is to wipe out intolerance, but only by means that will not
unnecessarily agitate the intolerant. Think Chinese handcuffs again.
-Zero
"I'm a seeker too. But my dreams aren't like yours. I can't help thinking
that somewhere in the universe there has to be something better than man.
Has to be." -- George Taylor _Planet of the Apes_ (1968)
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This archive was generated by hypermail 2b30 : Sat May 11 2002 - 17:44:15 MDT