Civil Discourse

Purpose

To find shared opportunity, remove barriers, propel creative solutions, promote individual and social development, vital for scientific progress

Definition

The practice of engaging in conversation to seek and foster understanding with mutual airing of views, not a contest, but intended to promote mutual understanding.

Core Values

Open-mindedness, compromise, mutual respect, respect for truth, active listening

Impacted By

Media Consolidation, Algorithmic Influence, FCC, Teachers Unions

Threatened By

Political Violence, Assassination Culture, Online Radicalization, Salad Bar Extremism, Woke Ideology, Cancel Culture, Dogmatism, Personal Attacks

Recommended Practices

Challenge ideas, not a person's character; de-escalate language; refrain from name-calling or labeling; focus on the issue at hand

Consequences of Breakdown

Destruction of Public Discourse, Threat to Free Speech, Stalling of Scientific Advancement, Societal Decay, Suicide of the West

2019-03-01

XXXX-XX-XX

XXXX-XX-XX

Civil discourse embodies the values of civic learning: open-mindedness, compromise, and mutual respect. In a way, civil discourse promotes individual and social development. It can be challenging and fruitful. Civil discourse is the practice of engaging in conversation to seek and foster understanding with mutual airing of views. It is not a contest; rather, it is intended to promote mutual understanding. It involves all parties' commitment to respect for truth, a practice of active listening [...] > Civil discourse is conversation with a serious purpose. It is conversation that looks to find shared opportunity, not conflict. It is conversation that looks to remove barriers, not build new ones. It is a conversation that instead of becoming paralyzed by our disagreements, uses them to propel creative solutions and alternatives. [...] ## Civil Discourse & Science [edit] Civil discourse refers to the respectful and constructive exchange of ideas and viewpoints. It is vital for scientific progress, which thrives on open inquiry, critical analysis, and the free flow of information. When civil discourse breaks down, scientific advancement can stall due to dogmatism, personal attacks, and the inability to consider alternative perspectives objectively. ### The Role of Civil Discourse in Scientific Progress [edit]

Civil discourse is a core element of the Kennedy School’s teaching in the areas of ethics, negotiation, and leadership as well, both in the School’s degree-program courses and in its executive education programs. One effective way to model this discourse is through case studies and simulations—forms of experiential learning that give students an opportunity to engage in real-life problems by studying or acting out scenarios. [...] Civil discourse alone will not bring an end to political polarization, but—if undertaken with a genuine desire for dialogue and engagement—it is one tool that policymakers and public leaders can use to improve their communities. True civil discourse involves both speaking our views clearly and listening closely to the views of others. “Listening,” Nancy Gibbs wrote in a recent piece on Medium, “is hard when the sounds around us grow mean and ugly.” Calling out “listen” as her word of the year [...] # For the Sake of Argument Civil discourse isn’t just about polite conversation. It’s a vital ingredient to better public policy and public leadership. And vital to the Kennedy School’s focus on public engagement. Show more By Nora Delaney Illustrations by Christian Northeast Spring 2019 “Be civil.” “Show some civility.”

Discourse demands that there be an open, in-person, and engaged discussion. That does not mean that both sides have to agree at the end. And nobody has to win or lose; discourse is not a contest. Instead, the goal of discourse is to gain new perspectives and understanding of a particular issue. It can sometimes be much easier to ignore and stigmatize those you don’t agree with. Civil discourse opens a path for the opportunity to create a chance for people to work together towards something [...] A common element of civil discourse for certain groups is having to educate those they’re speaking with. Civil discourse and education are inherently two separate things, but they do have some overlap. Educating others on an issue can take additional patience, mental effort, time, and emotional labor. This can become tiring and frustrating. Additionally, some may feel that certain opinions are not worth engaging or acknowledging. [...] Steven Petrow urges those engaging in civil discourse to challenge ideas, not a person’s character. Deescalate your language and refrain from flagrant name calling or labelling. It is easy to place someone’s opinions and views on the political spectrum or assume all of their beliefs align with a certain group ideology. However, it is helpful to refrain from doing so, as it puts people on the defense. Focus on the issue at hand, not the politics behind it. There may be times, however, when a

What would you add? ## Example of Student-Developed Civility Rules ### How to engage in civil discourse: 1. Tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. 2. Moderate your tone, so that you don’t sound aggressive. 3. Be conscious and mindful of your facial expressions. 4. Be attentive and considerate of your opponent’s point of view: Process what is being said Give equal time to opposing opinions. 5. Don’t repeat yourself. Use a variety of evidence. [...] civil discourse. [...] Use these ground rules and the examples written by other students to develop your own norms of civil discourse. Activity Resources 1. Civil Discourse and Difficult Decisions 2. Reality Check Quiz - Civil Discourse and Difficult Decisions 3. Civility Self-Reflection Exercise - Civil Discourse and Difficult Decisions 4. Setting Ground Rules - Civil Discourse and Difficult Decisions