Best-selling author Arthur Brooks discusses the importance of shifting the culture of contempt in American politics by encouraging constructive dialogue. Topics include combating contempt, evolving views on safety net policies, addressing attitudes towards slavery, human interactions, emotions, de-platforming on college campuses, and the importance of rules in discourse and debates.
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Quick takeaways
Loving your enemies fosters constructive conversations and saves America from contempt culture.
Contempt damages relationships more than anger, emphasizing the need for warmhearted responses.
Civil debates with enforced rules can improve discourse by fostering respectful, boundary-based interactions.
Deep dives
Arthur Brooks discusses the culture of contempt and quality of discourse in the US
Arthur Brooks, a political thinker, talks about his book 'Love Your Enemies' which delves into the culture of contempt in American political discourse. He emphasizes the need for constructive conversations, especially when facing disagreements. Brooks highlights the importance of separating ideologies from individuals to enable effective persuasion.
Contempt in political discourse and its impact on relationships
Contempt in political discourse is discussed, distinct from anger, as a cold emotion that devalues the person. Research shows that contemptuous behavior, like eye-rolling and sarcasm, damages relationships. Arthur Brooks advocates for declaring war on contempt to improve discourse, marriages, and society, highlighting the need for respectful interactions even in disagreements.
Overcoming contempt and fostering persuasive dialogues
Brooks emphasizes choosing warmhearted responses to contempt, inspired by teachings from the Dalai Lama. By expanding the range between stimulus and response, individuals can choose kind reactions, leading to happier and more persuasive interactions. He recommends responding respectfully to contempt to create an environment conducive to persuasion, enhancing personal relationships and societal discourse.
Impact of social media and anonymity on discourse
Brooks discusses the negative influence of social media in fostering contemptuous interactions due to anonymity and dehumanization. He advocates for humanizing online interactions by eliminating anonymity, suggesting tech advancements for identifying users. By promoting warmhearted responses and avoiding anonymous engagements, individuals can mitigate contempt and improve discourse.
Benefits of civil debates and setting rules for discourse
Brooks observes the positive impact of civil debates, highlighting the role of rules in fostering respectful discussions. Drawing parallels between debate rules and successful marriages, he underscores the importance of creating boundaries for discourse. By emphasizing the value of changing discourse rules and enforcing respectful engagement, Brooks champions a more fruitful and respectful exchange of ideas.
In this special episode of Intelligence Squared U.S., John Donvan sits down with one of America's leading political thinkers to discuss a bold premise: loving your enemies. Arthur Brooks is a best-selling author and the outgoing president of the American Enterprise Institute. His new book, "Love Your Enemies: How Decent People Can Save America from the Culture of Contempt", builds on his decades in politics and challenges Americans to love each other despite partisan differences. Learn more about membership and our upcoming debates at iq2us.org.