Alexandra Hudson: How Civility Can Save America—and the World
Oct 11, 2023
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Alexandra Hudson, author of The Soul of Civility, discusses the importance of mutual respect and tolerance in a politically polarized world. Topics include the difference between civility and manners, the need for civil disobedience, the impact of declining religion and family, and the importance of de-emphasizing politics for societal improvement.
Civility goes beyond surface-level manners and requires a disposition of the heart, promoting genuine connections and healthy relationships within communities.
People should move beyond political identities and embrace the diversity of human experiences to engage in meaningful conversations and foster understanding.
Deep dives
The Power of Civility and Respect
The podcast episode explores the concept of civility and the importance of treating others with respect. The guest, Alexandra Hudson, shares her personal experiences with civility and how it has shaped her worldview. She highlights the distinction between politeness and true civility, emphasizing that civility goes beyond surface-level manners, focusing instead on a disposition of the heart. Hudson believes that civility is essential for fostering genuine connections and promoting healthy relationships within communities.
The Role of Identity and Politics
Hudson discusses the tendency for people to place their political identities at the forefront of their lives. She argues that this obsession with politics can harm relationships and hinder open dialogue. By focusing too much on political differences, people fail to see the multifaceted nature of individuals and deny themselves the opportunity to engage in meaningful conversations. Hudson encourages individuals to move beyond politics as the sole source of identity and to embrace the diversity of human experiences.
The Importance of Porching and Community
Hudson shares the concept of 'porching,' which involves creating spaces where individuals from different backgrounds can gather and engage in conversation, building trust and social capital. She highlights the power of community and the role it plays in fostering understanding and connection. Through 'porching,' people can establish meaningful relationships and bridge societal divides, ultimately creating a sense of belonging and shared purpose.
The Influence of Faith and Religion
Hudson's faith as a Christian informs her philosophy of civility. She discusses the concept of the 'imago Dei,' which emphasizes that all human beings are created in the image of God and therefore deserve dignity and respect. Hudson believes that this idea, along with the Christian virtue of charity, has shaped the values of human dignity and universal worth that are foundational to a free and prosperous society. She highlights the transformative power of religion in promoting compassion and challenging the cruelty of the past.
Beyond obvious political polarization and the rancor that generates, Alexandra Hudson says that contemporary America—and the world—is "otherizing" people in a way that makes us all worse off by threatening our ability to peacefully coexist. In her new book The Soul of Civility: Timeless Principles To Heal Society and Ourselves, Hudson draws on the writings of figures from antiquity through Henry David Thoreau and Martin Luther King Jr. to show how to reawaken classical liberal virtues of mutual respect and tolerance in a world seemingly hell-bent on putting politics at the center of human meaning.
We talked about the difference between civility and manners, the need for and limits of civil disobedience, Hamas terrorism and the rules of war, and whether the decline of religion, family, and traditional forms of community spell the end of self-governance. Hudson publishes a Substack called Civic Renaissance, "a newsletter and community dedicated to ennobling our public discourse with the wisdom of the past."
This episode was taped live in New York City as a Reason Speakeasy, a monthly, unscripted conversation with outspoken defenders of free thinking and heterodoxy. Go here to listen to past Speakeasy events and go here to learn about upcoming ones (including one on October 23, featuring Greg Lukianoff and Rikki Schlott discussing their new book, The Canceling of the American Mind). This event was cosponsored by Young Voices, "a nonprofit talent agency and PR firm for a rising generation of heterodox thinkers." Go here to learn more about them.