16 Jan
2012
16 Jan
'12
10:10 a.m.
The CEU Department of Philosophy and Department of Political Science
cordially invite you to a talk
(as part of the Philosophy Departmental Colloquium series)
by
Sune Laegaard (Roskilde University)
on
'Toleration, Groups and Multiculturalism'
Tuesday, 17 January, 5.30 PM
Monument building Popper room (1st floor/102)
ABSTRACT
The paper considers how groups might be relevant as objects of policies
of toleration and the different senses 'group' might have in relation to
questions of toleration. The paper argues that groups can be relevant to
toleration in several different ways as objects of toleration.
Toleration is routinely defined as involving an objection component, a
power requirement and an acceptance component. The objection and
acceptance components refer to reasons or dispositions of the subjects
of toleration, e.g. public authorities deciding how to act in relation
to groups. The power condition refers to the political and social
relationship between the subject and the objects of toleration. Finally,
toleration is often argued to be a normative requirement on the basis of
the way it affects the object or receiver of toleration, e.g. on the
basis of the good of or right to freedom from non-interference which
toleration allows receivers of toleration to enjoy. The paper shows how
groups may be objects of toleration in different ways in relation to
each of these components or conditions of toleration. The sense of
'group' relevant to toleration may differ when the group is an object of
power, i.e. when others have the ability to interfere with the group’s
activities, an object of dislike or disapproval, an agent enjoying
non-interference or a moral patient. This means that 'toleration of
groups' can mean quite different things depending on the exact meaning
of 'group' in relation to each component. The paper relates the
different possible meanings of groups toleration to widespread
criticisms of multiculturalism for being excessively 'groupist' (e.g. to
essentialise or reify groups), to promote group rights over individual
rights, or to deny or ignore the internal heterogeneity of groups or the
multiple identity affiliations of individuals. The paper suggests that
some of these standard criticisms of multiculturalism for being overly
tolerant of minority groups, or being so in a way elevating groups over
individuals, are less pressing on some understandings of the meaning of
'group' as an object of policies of multicultural toleration than on
others. So the paper both contributes to the conceptual understanding of
toleration and groups and to the normative debates about
multiculturalism insofar as these turn on the toleration of groups.
Kriszta Biber
Department Coordinator
Philosophy Department
Tel: 36-1-327-3806
Fax: 36-1-327-3072
E-mail: biberk(a)ceu.hu