Tolerance — Meaning, Definition, and How This Core Value Shapes Your Life
What Is Tolerance as a Core Value?
Tolerance values allowing differences in beliefs, practices, and identities without hostility. People high in Tolerance maintain openness amid disagreement.
Why Tolerance Matters
Honoring Tolerance helps you:
- reduce polarization and prejudice,
- learn from diverse viewpoints,
- keep dialogue channels open,
- create inclusive environments.
How Tolerance Shows Up (High vs. Low Expression)
High Expression
- distinguishes disagreement from disrespect,
- suspends judgment to understand,
- avoids dehumanizing language,
- supports pluralism.
Low Expression
- vilifies out-groups,
- refuses to engage differing views,
- imposes uniformity,
- punishes heterodoxy.
Common Challenges of High Tolerance
- drifting into moral relativism,
- underreacting to real harm,
- conflict avoidance masking as openness,
- slow decisions amid broad accommodation.
Tolerance in Conflict With Other Values
Tolerance vs. Justice
Justice demands consequences for harm; Tolerance avoids punitive responses.
Tension: accountability vs. permissiveness.
Tolerance vs. Certainty
Certainty holds firm, closed beliefs; Tolerance invites lingering ambiguity.
Tension: fixed conviction vs. open allowance.
Examples of Tolerance in Daily Life
- Hosting dialogues across ideological divides.
- Using respectful language for groups you disagree with.
- Allowing space for non-harmful differences.
- Practicing curiosity before critique.