Toleration and Identity: Foundations in Early Modern Thought

Recently, there has been a notable rise in interest in the idea of "toleration", a rise that Ingrid Creppell argues comes more from distressing political developments than positive ones, and almost all of them are related to issues of identity: rampant genocide in the 20th Century, the resurgence of religious fundamentalism around the world and ethnic-religious wars in Eastern Europe and the Middle East. This text argues that a contemporary ethic of toleration must include recognition of identity issues, and that the traditional liberal ideal of toleration is not sufficiently understood if we define it strictly as one of individual rights and freedom of beliefs. Moving back and forth between contemporary debates and the foundational writings of Bodin, Mantaigne, Lock, and Defoe, this work provides a fresh perspective on two key ideas deeply connected to current philosophical debates and political issues.

Ingrid Creppell is Associate Professor of Political Science at The George Washington University.