FB13 – How to Disagree Well – Paul Graham
Political discourse, and democracy itself, is fraught with massive problems if people do not communicate effectively around important ideas. Bashing others online and promoting YouTube rants have been a big part of recent social media debates.
Christ Followers are to be Kingdom People, operating with distinction from the selfish, power-driven natures associated with the “kingdoms of this world.” The Apostle Paul frames our role as Ambassadors for Christ. Christ himself uses images of Salt (suggesting improvement of flavor, preservation of The Good) and Light (revealing and making clear The Way). Given such role expectations, how might Christ Followers pursue greater effectiveness?
Paul Graham, with expertise in and concern for the better use of technologies in life, reflects on the changing communication styles evident on Internet media. He created a model (with categories and a scale) to help us analyze different styles for engaging with one another in disagreement.
Of particular interest is the contrast between lower and upper levels. Lower level styles include criticism of people, attacks on character, and name-calling. At higher levels we find disciplined argument focused on ideas, presumably the substance of disagreement. Christians might add to these upper levels the appealing practices of love, humility, and gentleness.
While many of us may engage too often at lower levels, I suggest that the “work of ambassadors” might be significantly advanced through a greater commitment to higher level strategies.
A concise explanation of Paul Graham’s model is provided here by Paul Ratner.
How to Disagree Well: 7 of the Best and Worst Ways to Argue
First published on Facebook Page (My Reads and Views):
https://www.facebook.com/RonInRegina/posts/223494502852775
First published here: 2021/03/31
Latest revision: 2022/01/02