Newswise — As we inch toward Election Day and brace for the aftermath, learning to disagree will be as important as ever. Civil discourse – actively engaging while aiming to understand, not persuade – is the key to navigating the upcoming political minefield, says Tim Shaffer, the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Chair of Civil Discourse at the University of Delaware.
Shaffer, who is also director of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Ithaca Initiative in UD's Biden School of Public Policy and Administration, can discuss the concept of civil discourse and how it can be used to navigate a society so divided politically that it has torn friendships and families apart.
Some main points:
• Civil discourse emphasizes listening to understand others’ perspectives, focusing on shared values – such as family – rather than conflicting positions.
• Disagreement is actually important. Society needs friction for growth and progress.
• Advice for healthy discourse: Practice intellectual humility, acknowledging the complexity of issues beyond right and wrong and recognizing the importance of gray areas in life.
• Staying safe and sane on social media: "People need to feel safe and included, and we need to ensure we hear differing viewpoints, so how do we balance those competing values? There’s no secret answer, but we have to figure it out collectively."
• Open discussions can be a valuable tool. "I believe in the power of education—church basements, community spaces, classrooms—to make a difference," Shaffer says.
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