Reviving Civil Discourse: The Power of Constructive Arguments

In today's society, our public conversations are in a state of crisis. People are entrenched in their views, often shouting at each other from a distance rather than engaging in meaningful dialogue. This communication breakdown can be attributed to the gradual atrophy of good argumentation skills. We've stopped viewing arguments as a skill to be developed and instead approach them with instinct and defensiveness. This leads to poor-quality arguments, which further erodes our confidence in the value of disagreements, degrading the overall quality of our conversations.

The Decline of Constructive Arguments

My name is Bo Seo, a two-time world debate champion, former coach of the Australian and Harvard debate teams, and the author of "Good Arguments." My journey with debate began as a way to navigate the challenges of moving from South Korea to Australia at eight years old. Not speaking English made disagreements particularly difficult, as they were often disruptive and fast-paced. To cope, I became very agreeable and kept my thoughts to myself. This changed when I joined the debate team, which promised that when one person speaks, no one else interrupts. This simple rule felt like salvation.

The Importance of Strategic Argumentation

Intelligence is the ability to respond to any argument, but wisdom lies in knowing which arguments to engage with and which parts to address. Arguments are easy to start but hard to resolve because of the many potential points of contention between people. To avoid overwhelming disputes, it's crucial to define the specific disagreement at hand. This prevents the conversation from devolving into an unruly mass of conflicts.

The RISA Framework for Effective Disagreements

To navigate arguments more wisely, I developed the RISA Framework, which consists of four key questions to consider before engaging in a disagreement:

1. Is the disagreement real? Ensure it's not just a misunderstanding.

2. Is it important enough? Decide if the issue justifies a disagreement.

3. Is the topic specific enough? Focus on a narrow issue to make progress.

4. Are you aligned in objectives? Ensure both parties have a shared goal in the conversation.

While this framework can't guarantee a positive outcome, it can significantly improve the chances of a constructive discussion.

Practical Applications and Limitations

The RISA Framework is particularly useful in situations like family gatherings, where personal or political disagreements are likely to surface. Starting with a bit of agreement—by naming the specific disagreement—helps prevent the conversation from spiraling into unrelated conflicts. It's also essential to understand each party's motivation for engaging in the disagreement. Forcing a contrarian family member to clarify their intentions can lead to a more productive conversation.

However, the framework has its limitations. Finding alignment in people's interests for engaging in disagreements is increasingly challenging. When two sides simply want to hurt each other's feelings, the conversation is unlikely to be productive.

Listening: The Foundation of Effective Debate

A crucial lesson from the debate is that to be heard, you must first listen. Listening is not a passive act but an active process. Debaters understand the importance of fully grasping the opposition's argument, often responding to the strongest version of it. This approach ensures that the other side feels heard and respected, which is vital for a constructive dialogue.

Developing Empathy Through Debate

Debaters also practice "side-switch exercises," where they argue from their opponent's perspective. This exercise fosters empathy and humility, helping debaters understand the reasonableness of other viewpoints. Such exercises are not only beneficial in personal disagreements but are urgently needed in political and ideological disputes. Recognizing that we are more than our political, religious, or ideological beliefs can expand the scope of our conversations and enhance our ability to discuss contentious issues humanely and productively.

Reviving the art of good argument is essential for improving the quality of our public conversations. By adopting frameworks like RISA and practicing active listening and empathy, we can transform disagreements into opportunities for growth and understanding. In a world where divisive rhetoric often dominates, these skills are more important than ever.