On The Moral Tolerance

Moral tolerance is an important subject of contemporary ethical praxis, but no one has made a systematic research on the theoretical basis of moral tolerance, the basic implication of moral tolerance, the mechanism of realizing moral tolerance in academic circles till now .In this essay, I try to systematically approach the basic connotation of moral tolerance, the mechanism of realizing moral tolerance, the modern value and limitation of moral tolerance.Firstly, I approach basic connotation of moral tolerance. Moral tolerance is one of the three types of tolerance and there is difference and relation between moral tolerance, religious tolerance, and political tolerance. Besides, it also underwent a process of historic development. Moral tolerance is premised on three factors,including the social factors--individual equality, the cultural factor--diversityof culture, the individual factor-rational autonomy. Moral tolerance calls for moral subjects having moral freedom and following the principles of respecting rights, of neither making nor meddling in order to realize the goal of just, reasonable order of morality.Secondly, I Approach the mechanism responsible for realizing moral tolerance .The social mechanism responsible for realizing moral tolerance includes: an institution being set up in which pluralistic moral value systems existing side by side; the mechanism of moral discourse of equality, consultation and dialogue being established; people being educated in the consciousness of diversity, equality and moral subjectivity. The individual mechanism responsible for realizing moral tolerance includes: making tolerance become individual inherent moral need, heightening moral cognition of moral tolerance and adopting actual actions of moral tolerance.Lastly, I approach the modern value and the limitation of moral tolerance. In the contemporary existing pluralistic interests and cultures, establishing universal ethics calls for the attitude of moral tolerance. Just, reasonable international order is based on equality, respect and forgiveness, and these three factors reflect the demand of moral tolerance. So establishing a just international order claims the attitude of moraltolerance. Establishing limitations of moral tolerance is virtually to establish the limits of tolerability and intolerability, but the key to establish the limits is to establish the criterion for tolerability and intolerability. Moreover, the criterion for tolerability and intolerability must be objective and just. The author thinks that knowledge, human rights and justice are the criterion for tolerability and intolerability.