Clearer Thinking with Spencer Greenberg How can we un-break politics? (with Magnus Vinding)
Dec 21, 2022
Magnus Vinding, an author and co-founder of the Center for Reducing Suffering, shares insights on improving political discourse. He discusses the two-step ideal of reasoned politics and how it applies to complex issues like free speech. Vinding emphasizes the importance of protecting free expression to combat misinformation and advocates for understanding biases rooted in group dynamics. The conversation promotes moving beyond zero-sum thinking to achieve more collaborative and constructive political discussions.
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Two-Step Politics
- Separate normative political discussions from empirical ones.
- Discuss values first, then explore how to achieve them practically.
Intrinsic vs. Instrumental Values
- Intrinsic values, valued for their own sake, are resistant to change.
- Instrumental values, as means to an end, offer more room for agreement and change.
Free Speech and Reactance
- Limiting free speech can backfire due to psychological reactance, making forbidden ideas more appealing.
- Protecting free speech enables open critique of false information, which is crucial for reasoned discourse.
