Value pluralism does not imply relativism or subjectivism about values. What it does is allow respect for an at least limited toleration of values with which one may profoundly disagree. Thus a doctor can respect the autonomy of a patient whose values he does not share.

Recent attempts at making sense of toleration as an ideal political morality have focused on how liberal democratic institutions generate arrangements that protect people’s freedom to “live their life they see fit.” We show these views rely a one-dimensional interpretation the project. In so doing, underestimate important “interactive” dimension. This dimension concerns what it means for democr...

Early social deprivation in highly social mammals interferes with their varying needs for security and stimulation. Toleration of social stimulation was studied in 18 adult ex-laboratory chimpanzees, who had been deprived for 16 to 27 years, during their 1st year after resocialization into 1 of 3 social groups. For this, a model of social competence was developed with 5 grades of social stimula...

It is common for religiously motivated actions to be specially protected by law. Many legal theorists have asked why: what makes religion special? What it worthy of toleration over and above other non-religious deeply held convictions? The answer I put forward that religions’ alleged afterlife consequences call a principle warrants special treatment. Under Rawlsian toleration, reasonable those ...