Abstract

The term "pluralism" is often misused. A reconsideration of its historical origin and development is therefore necessary in order to avoid the problems of conceptual stretching and impoverishment. This is the very goal this article adresses. The author explores the relationship between both pluralism and tolerance and pluralism and multiculturalism. He criticizes the common practice whereby all these concepts are treated as synonyms and argues in favour of their distinctiveness. Among the concluding remarks, it is stressed that pluralism is strongly related to reciprocity and therefore that "to be pluralistic" doesn't imply accepting every difference.