Arthur Brooks, president of the American Enterprise Institute and launching a new podcast on the art and practice of disagreement, shares insights on how to disagree better, the importance of expressing healthy anger, and the detrimental effects of contempt in politics and society. He discusses the impact of snark and contempt on constructive disagreement, the difference between civility and uncivil disagreement on social media platforms, and the growing division in society. Despite the challenges, Brooks believes that the crisis presents an opportunity for improvement.
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Quick takeaways
Healthy disagreement prioritizes anger over contempt, as anger can lead to reconciliation while contempt fosters permanent enmity.
The habit of expressing contemptuous behavior, such as eye-rolling and sarcasm, hinders constructive disagreement and should be broken.
Creating an atmosphere that encourages constructive engagement in disagreement requires embracing civility, open-mindedness, and the potential for change.
In the exchange of ideas and policies, competition is crucial but should be governed by rules and basic morality to foster healthy and constructive engagement.
Deep dives
The Importance of Breaking the Habit of Contemptuous Expressions
In today's political climate, the problem is not disagreement or conflict, but the inability to disagree well. Anger can and often does lead to reconciliation, while contempt leads to permanent enmity. Expressions of contempt, such as eye-rolling, mockery, and sarcasm, alienate others and hinder constructive disagreement. It is crucial to break the habit of contemptuous expressions, both in personal interactions and on social media platforms. This means catching oneself when about to express contempt and instead choosing healthier forms of disagreement that allow for productive engagement.
The Impact of Polarization and Contempt
Polarization in politics is characterized by contemptuous behavior rather than healthy disagreement. The inability to treat others with civility, respect, and openness impedes progress and compromises the value of competing ideas. Expressing contempt fosters a climate of divisiveness and permanent enmity, hindering constructive dialogue and inhibiting the potential for change. Fostering an environment that promotes positive engagement and healthy debate is essential to finding common ground and advancing society.
The Role of External Threats and Economic Growth
External threats and periods of economic growth can shape the climate for ideas and politics. During times of crisis, people are driven together, fostering more consensus-oriented environments. Meanwhile, periods of economic growth, especially when it is shared across income levels, establish a positive-sum mentality and diminish zero-sum thinking. Encouraging symmetrical economic growth and emphasizing the importance of shared prosperity can contribute to a more constructive political climate conducive to exchanging ideas.
Cultivating Productive Engagement in Disagreement
Creating an atmosphere that encourages constructive engagement in disagreement requires breaking the habit of contempt and promoting healthier forms of disagreement. Expressions of anger should seek reconciliation and productive dialogue rather than resorting to contemptuous behavior. Social media platforms, in particular, should be used to foster meaningful exchanges of ideas rather than for dismissive or contemptuous attacks. By embracing civility, open-mindedness, and the potential for change, we can facilitate an environment that positively impacts the way we engage with diverse perspectives and contribute to constructive societal progress.
Competition is important in the exchange of ideas
Competition, governed by rules and basic morality, is crucial in the exchange of ideas and policies. It provides an opportunity for productive engagement and pushes individuals to refine and strengthen their arguments. The presence of competition ensures that ideas are thoroughly examined, and the best ideas can rise to the top. However, it is crucial to adhere to the rules of engagement and treat each other with respect and warmth in order to foster healthy and constructive competition.
Expressing warm-heartedness in the face of contempt
When faced with contempt, it is important to respond with warm-heartedness and compassion. Expressing kindness and understanding helps to de-escalate conflicts and foster productive conversations. Detaching oneself from negative emotions and examining them from an outsider's perspective can bring about personal growth and progress in disagreements. By practicing warm-heartedness, individuals can change the dynamics of the relationship and promote a more positive and constructive dialogue.
Engaging with different perspectives and challenging one's beliefs
Engaging with perspectives that challenge our own beliefs is essential for personal growth and understanding. By reading books or engaging in conversations that present opposing viewpoints, individuals can examine their own perspectives and question their own biases. This practice helps to identify areas where one may be unpersuadable or close-minded, encouraging intellectual humility and allowing for greater empathy and understanding.
Arthur Brooks is the president of the American Enterprise Institute, one of Washington’s most respected and powerful conservative think tanks. He’s also launching a new podcast, The Arthur Brooks Show, with Vox Media on the art and practice of disagreement. I’ve known Brooks for a while. And I disagree with him on, well, a lot — at least when it comes to American politics. And yet, those disagreements haven’t ended a years-long conversation between us on everything from management to spirituality to policy. I can say from experience: Brooks really is good at disagreeing. In this podcast, Brooks — a Seattle native with a liberal family and a background as a traveling musician — reveals what he’s learned on how to disagree better, why civility shouldn’t be the goal in conversation, and why it’s healthy to have a lot of arguments. We talk about why he’s stepping down from his position at AEI, why I stepped down from management at Vox, and why anger is a healthy emotion and contempt isn’t. This is one of those conversations I’ve thought about daily since having it. The anger versus contempt rubric has been particularly useful for me, and I think it will be for you. Enjoy! Recommended books: Zen and the Art of Archery by Eugen Herrigel The Unpersuadables by Will Storr The Consolations of Mortality by Andrew Stark
