The chapter explores the importance of human connection in the digital age, emphasizing the need to disconnect from technology for mental well-being and highlighting how technology can impact our humanity. It discusses the value of in-person interactions for building trust, civility, and a flourishing society, and presents strategies to promote civility in conversations by embracing unoffendability and curiosity over anger.
What does it mean to be civil with others – and why does this value often feel at risk? Alexandra Hudson, author of The Soul of Civility: Timeless Principles to Heal Society and Ourselves, says that civility is very different from being polite – but that it might be the key to building back positive relationships across differences in society. This week, Alexandra shares her research on why valuing the people you disagree with as human beings is so important, and what you can do to be a slightly better citizen of the world.