Maintaining composure when discussions become intense

Americans today grapple with methods to temper discussions surrounding politically and morally charged issues

Students, educators, and academic professionals from around the globe congregated at Harvard this month to forge pathways to more fruitful dialogues — and improved connections. The inaugural Challenging Barriers to Civil Discourse conference, organized by the Edmond and Lily Safra Center for Ethics, presented scholarship on nurturing open, sincere conversations across significant divides.

“This endeavor is fundamental to a thriving democracy,” emphasized Hopi Hoekstra, Edgerley Family Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences. “Civil discourse remains one of my highest priorities,” she communicated to the attendees of the conference. “Institutions of higher education possess a distinctive and vital role in demonstrating constructive dialogue, and I am convinced that our classrooms and campuses can — and must — function as experimental sites for meaningful discourse across differences.”

Numerous panelists shared actionable strategies derived from Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), a term encompassing various methods to resolve conflicts outside of litigation. Julia Kolak, a lecturer in the Department of Epidemiology and Population Health at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and a clinical ethics fellow at Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx, recounted a compelling experience regarding the “values extraction” technique she employs when tensions rise between patients and healthcare providers.

Kolak narrated instances of mediating disputes that occurred when women declined treatment for nonviable (and potentially fatal) ectopic pregnancies, or when the relatives of a critically ill patient (experiencing cardiac arrest and septic shock) opposed end-of-life interventions. She aims to uncover the foundational values guiding all involved, without elevating the voices of those with medical knowledge. “When we acknowledge others as capable of dialogue,” she suggested, “it significantly alters the emotional landscape of conflict.”

Other presenters drew from historical insights. Nicholas Buck, a philosophy teacher at American University, referenced the writings of Martin Luther King Jr. to illustrate why organizations should shift their emphasis from simply managing disagreements to cultivating a sense of collective belonging — a concept King referred to as “the beloved community.”

One attendee inquired about how King’s notions relate to the global surge of anti-intellectualism. “It appears to stem from feelings of exclusion,” Buck responded, reiterating King’s vision of community.

Philosopher Jeffrey Dunn encouraged participants to engage in some introspection. The associate director of the Prindle Institute for Ethics at DePauw University posed an essential question: “What is the ultimate purpose of this endeavor?”

“It’s not primarily about altering perspectives; it’s about cultivating understanding or empathy towards the opposing side,” he explained. “Robert Talisse, the political philosopher, has authored a book making the case that increasing empathy does not arise from discussing politics together, but instead through engaging in nonpolitical activities like playing pickleball or joining a softball league.”

The event offered a glimpse into the type of programming routinely provided by the FAS’ Civil Discourse initiative. It also served as a preliminary launch for the Ethics Center’s research and design hub, which aims to share innovative practices in civil discourse.

“We aspire for this laboratory to further foundational research on civil disagreements, contribute to educational methodologies, and enhance social scientific assessments of constructive dialogue,” stated Eric Beerbohm, the Alfred and Rebecca Lin Professor of Government and head of the Ethics Center and the Civil Discourse initiative.

Those present included a diverse group of scholars, alongside proctors and student mentors involved in Harvard College’s FiVE Fellowship in Values Engagement and undergraduates participating in the Intercollegiate Civil Disagreement Partnership Fellowship, a program spearheaded by a consortium that includes Harvard and five additional institutions in California, Indiana, Florida, and Texas.

The fellows encountered a wealth of research specifically addressing campus life. Marie Newhouse, an associate professor of law, philosophy, and public policy at the University of Surrey in the U.K., referenced Oxford philosopher Teresa Bejan’s “Mere Civility.” The 2019 publication positioned philosophers Thomas Hobbes and John Locke in dialogue with Roger Williams, the 18th-century founder of Rhode Island.

“He established extraordinarily tolerant policies concerning religious and lifestyle diversity within the community,” Newhouse elaborated. “He believed that facilitating ongoing communication among all members was paramount, and to achieve that, he was willing to confront greater discord.”

Concepts from Bejan’s work were employed to illustrate a triangle of characteristics essential to any society engaged in open inquiry: stability, discourse, and diversity. “It resembles that internet meme presenting three choices — quick, inexpensive, and quality. Choose two!” Newhouse jested.

She speculated that higher education had begun to emphasize the Lockean ideal of social unity while contending it should aspire toward a model more akin to Williams’ approach.

“People find pleasure in residing in cohesive communities,” Newhouse noted. “However, I wonder if it might start to conflict with the university’s mission, which necessitates vibrant dialogue across substantial disagreements.”

Equally pertinent to the present-day challenges faced by college campuses was a presentation by St. Lawrence University education professor Jeff Frank, who discussed a recent initiative where faculty collaborated with students to test a fresh approach to promoting civil discourse.

An internal campaign they champion as “Be a Saint” promotes the collective values of listening, respect, and engagement with an added nod to the institution’s athletic teams. The initiative is currently expanding to incorporate efforts aimed at bolstering students’ mental wellness, Frank explained.

“It is in everyone’s best interest to acquire the skills to thrive in a pluralistic society,” he stated. “Therefore, our current message is that this serves your personal interests. You’re not merely doing this for the institution.”