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Culture War Roundup for the week of February 24, 2025

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When Popper says intolerance here, he means intolerance of disagreement, not hate speech. Hence "but begin by denouncing all argument; they may forbid their followers to listen to rational argument, because it is deceptive, and teach them to answer arguments by the use of their fists or pistols". This isn't just random padding but Popper is describing what exactly is the difference between what he views as tolerance and intolerance. And it has nothing to do with hate speech. In his view an intolerant philosophy is one that:

  • Rejects rational argument
  • Rejects all criticism as illegitimate
  • Advocates violence against opponents
  • Aims to suppress other philosophies

That progressives decide to misconstrue this to make themselves the benefactors of the paradox is their fault, not Popper's. He'd recognise a desire to suppress whatever is deemed to be "hate speech" as intolerant, rather than those accused of hate speech.

Edit: Looks like this was already pointed out below.

Popper's analysis was centered on critique of exclusionary racialism, motivated by Nazism. He considered that to be intolerant. He is supporting outlawing that perspective as Intolerant.

The idea he would be on the side of racial nationalists for having a right to free speech, and against European hate speech laws, is not at all supported by the text.

No, Popper's analysis is centred on critique of Plato and historicism, the idea that history is controlled by historical laws that can be used to predict the future. He links racialism to this as a theory of history that proposes that a certain race is destined to inherit the Earth, but it's not centred on this.

It's pretty clear that racialism falls ideologically under "intolerant" according to Popper, and certainly according to the prevailing political understanding.

Popper's writing certainly suggests he would support suppressing racialism in order to preserve tolerance.