The Implicatures of Tolerance

--------------by J. L. S. of the Grice Club
for the Carnap Corner


--- QUINE infamously told Carnap in private correspondence which the world later all knew about: "Your principle is so 'tolerant' that it will tolerate 'Hitler'!"

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There is an unwanted 'implicature' of 'tolerant'. Witness the online etymological note:

"tolerance. 1412, "endurance, fortitude," from O.Fr. tolerance (14c.), from L. tolerantia "endurance," from tolerans, prp. of tolerare "to bear, endure, tolerate" (see toleration). Of authorities, in the sense of "permissive," first recorded 1539; of individuals, with the sense of "free from bigotry or severity," 1765. Meaning "allowable amount of variation" dates from 1868; and physiological sense of "ability to take large doses" first recorded 1875. Tolerant is recorded from 1784. The verb tolerate is attested from 1531."


Smith tolerated him.

"him".

Implicature:

"Smith endured him"

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There is a (-) ring to it. This must, or could, be 'implicatural'. Calvin, for example, may 'tolerate' something which he thinks is actually (+).

In which case, to analyse, 'tolerate', we may not need to import value-judgements like that!

Next: Stay tuned: Principle of Tolerance properly tolerated by you know who.