David Godden (Dept. of Philosophy)
4/16/2021, 12PM-1PM
Zoom Link: https://msu.zoom.us/j/98504663406
Passcode: msuc4i
Public discourse, especially about policy, has increasingly become characterized by disagreement, polarization, incivility, and, ultimately, distrust among disagreers. Normally, disagreement is addressed through the public exchange of reasons in civil argumentation. Yet, distrust is itself a barrier to reasonable argumentation and the rational resolution of disagreement. In this talk, I ask: Is the mere persistence of disagreement a good reason to distrust our disagreers? The answer, I argue, is “No.” In making this case, I offer disagreers reasons to be more charitable and patient with each other, and to thereby re-establish a modicum of normalcy and civility in public discourse.