The Great Refusal or Mary’s Fiat: An Advent Reflection
Mary’s fiat is a magnanimous expression of receptivity and gratitude, rather than revolt. It is a humble and even joyous reception of something given that she did not choose: God’s will. In the broader cultural sense, adopting Mary’s receptivity would entail a thankful and receptive attitude towards a rich cultural patrimony, inherited tradition, and indeed given nature.
Tolerance of differing and dissenting viewpoints was once considered a fundamental virtue for a flourishing and healthy liberal democracy. However, this tradition appears to be in jeopardy. Of late, an increasingly illiberal intolerance appears to have won the day. In his now famous essay from 1965, “Repressive Tolerance,” critical theorist Herbert Marcuse articulates the illiberal justification for this inversion: “certain things cannot be said, certain ideas cannot be expressed, certain policies cannot be proposed, certain behavior cannot be permitted without making tolerance an instrument for the continuation of servitude.”
For Marcuse, a society that is repressive allows the powerful to use tolerance as an instrument to perpetuate hegemony and subjugation. It follows, in this view, that promoting minority and marginalized voices requires an illiberal limitation of free speech rights and religious liberties. Marcuse calls this illiberal limitation a Great Refusal—the refusal of given norms in order to create a new, more liberated society.
Please right-click links to open in a new window.
Related Posts
Tags
Share This
