An (open) mind is a terrible thing to waste

"I never considered a difference of opinion in politics, in religion, in philosophy, as cause for withdrawing from a friend." ~ Thomas Jefferson

The American election season is a terribly divisive time, rife with groundless animosity and the parading of one's questionable dogma of choice. In the spirit of this time of contention, I'm going to take a moment to talk about politics. Sort of. I'm actually going to cover the act of talking about politics. Specifically, I'm going to share some pointers on how to actually have some civilized discourse instead of a pointless shouting match. These points aren't limited to political discussion, and are just generally helpful to keep in mind.

#1.) Be aware of the reasons for your beliefs. You aren't going to be able to talk meaningfully about what you believe if you can't explain why you believe.

#2.) Genuinely want to understand the other person's views. If you don't actually make an effort to understand the other person's views, you're kind of an ass if you still expect them to pay attention to yours. You should make mutual understanding one of your highest priorities in a discussion. You should shoot for a dialogue, not a monologue. Let the other person speak, and actively listen to what they're saying. Ask questions to clarify their position. People generally enjoy being the subject of honest curiosity in this context.

#3.) Be open-minded. My fields of study are economics and philosophy. If there's one thing I've learned in either field, it's that assumptions make it easier to fit reality into tidy little models. If there's a second thing I've learned, it's that the tidier the model is, the less that model will actually correlate with reality in any meaningful way. If you want to have a meaningful discussion on a topic like politics, you need to be willing to admit that your assumptions aren't unassailable.

#4.) Be polite, dammit. The world is a bizarrely complicated place, and it's quite easy for equally intelligent people to come to completely different conclusions on something. Don't equate disagreement with stupidity. Be respectful even if you're talking with someone who appears completely incapable of grasping logical truths (such as "A is true if B is true" being equivalent to "if B is not true, A is also not true"). Feel free to point out problematic logic and incorrect facts, but be respectful about it. Make sure to keep your language as polite as possible at all times, because inflamed tempers will quickly undo any efforts at a civilized discourse.

#5.) Keep your arguments relevant to the other person. An atheist will not care that the book of Leviticus declares male homosexual intercourse to be an abomination (Lev. 18:22), so it's not relevant if you're arguing with an atheist about whether same-sex marriage should be legal. A person is more likely to listen to an argument that is compatible with their own views. This is one reason why it is so crucial to understand why the other person believes what they do. By understanding where they're coming from, you'll be able to figure out how to actually respond to their beliefs. If you try using an argument fundamentally incompatible with the other person's worldview, you aren't going to get anywhere productive.

EDIT: I initially said "try only to use arguments that are compatible with the assumptions held by the other person." That's not what I had intended to say. There's nothing wrong with arguing against a person's assumptions, save for the fact that people generally don't like the process of carefully reexamining their beliefs. That's why so many people found Socrates so bloody annoying. Just keep in mind that arguments are more persuasive when they don't require people to actually change their fundamental beliefs. When you align an argument with the other person's basic assumptions, you are only trying to persuade them of a single thing. When you make an argument that contradicts the other person's basic assumptions, you are trying to persuade them of multiple things simultaneously, hence the increased difficulty.

#6.) Stick to the facts. When possible, name specific studies and evidence for your position. When you don't know something for certain, admit your lack of knowledge. Never attempt to use rumor, popular opinion, baseless speculation, appeals to authorities, etc. as substitutes for actual evidence. Be honest about the difference between what you know to be true (and can verify) and what you believe to be true (and cannot verify).

So there you have it. Understand the source of your beliefs and the beliefs of the other person. Keep an open mind and a respectful attitude. Only present the facts you can verify and the arguments that matter to the other person. Finally, I'd like to add one final piece of advice:

#7.) It's about learning, not winning. One conversation on politics is probably not going to cause someone to throw out their entire political worldview. Opinions tend to change fairly slowly. As such, you shouldn't expect someone to be converted to your dogma of choice after presenting your case. Don't make that your goal. Instead, just try to learn why the other person thinks what they do. Share your views, and let your views be challenged. You'll be happier and wiser for it.

I'll post again soon, with music this time. Today marks the start of my Spring break, and I plan to make up for the lack of a February post and then some. Until then, may your political discussions be rational, productive and enjoyable. Guitarman, out.