Tolerance and fanaticism: the measure that saves the community

This text attempts to define fanaticism as a vague phenomenon, oscillating between zeal and fury. The author analyzes two main types of fanaticism: crowd fanaticism, based on xenophobia, and idea fanaticism, stemming from doctrinaire beliefs. A key element of this discussion is Bogusław Wolniewicz's model (A ≈ D · R), which combines ethical courage with reason, emphasizing the need for proportion in action. Drawing on the thought of Karl Popper and Isaiah Berlin, the article explores the paradox of tolerance and the pluralism of values in an open society. The overall text serves as a call to seek the Aristotelian golden mean and reject revolutionary violence in favor of an institutional balancing of reasons. This is essential reading for those seeking to understand the mechanisms of radicalization and ways to protect social order from the destructive influence of monomania and ideocracy.