British society is often regarded as one of the most tolerant in the world. In the last few decades however tension has been growing in public debate between those who advocate greater tolerance of differences in beliefs and actions, and those for whom tolerance has ‘gone too far’; between those who advocate not tolerating certain words or views and those who advocate the greatest scope possible for free speech. The course is an opportunity to stand back from the sometimes heated current debates and reflect on the meaning, limits and aims of toleration. Topics to be covered : 1. How tolerant am I ? Exploring our own attitudes to tolerance (with help of a philosophical questionnaire); 2.different interpretations of toleration and how they may apply to particular examples; 3. a history of the idea of toleration; 4. reflection on differences between the conceptual analyses presented and students’ understanding of tolerance.
Course aim
The aim of the course is to introduce students to different conceptions of tolerance and give them the opportunity to express and examine their own ideas about tolerance
Do I need any particular skills or experience?
- This course is for beginners and improvers
By the end of the course I should be able to:
- indicate how tolerant I am and give reasons for my judgements
- give a definition of toleration
- name the key features of the four current conceptions of toleration and give examples of each
- indicate any changes in my understanding of tolerance and toleration as a result of the course
What else do I need to know?
This is an online course. You will need an email address, reliable Internet access, and a CANVAS account. Help with CANVAS is available from the national WEA team.
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