debate – It's what we make of it https://itswhatwemakeofit.org Let's make it better Thu, 02 Sep 2021 01:56:07 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.1 Dialogue vs Debate https://itswhatwemakeofit.org/dialogue-vs-debate/ Tue, 03 Nov 2009 12:16:00 +0000 https://itswhatwemakeofit.org/?p=2294
  • Dialogue is collaborative: two or more sides work together toward common understanding.
    • Debate is oppositional: two sides oppose each other and attempt to prove each other wrong.
  • In dialogue, finding common ground is the goal.
    • In debate, winning is the goal.
  • In dialogue, one listens to the other side(s) in order to understand, find meaning and find agreement.
    • In debate, one listens to the other side in order to find flaws and to counter its arguments.
  • Dialogue enlarges and possibly changes a participants point of view.
    • Debate affirms a participant’s own point of view.
  • Dialogue reveals assumptions for re-evaluation.
    • Debate defends assumptions as truth.
  • Dialogue causes introspection on one’s own position.
    • Debate causes critique of the other position.
  • Dialogue opens the possibility of reaching a better solution than any of the original solutions.
    • Debate defends one’s own positions as the best solution and excludes other solutions.
  • Dialogue creates an open-minded attitude: an openness to being wrong and an openness to change.
    • Debate creates a close-minded attitude, a determination to be right.
  • In dialogue, one submits one’s best thinking, knowing that other people’s reflections will help improve it rather than destroy it.
    • In debate, one submits one’s best thinking and defends it against challenge to show that it is right.
  • Dialogue calls for temporarily suspending one’s beliefs.
    • Debate calls for investing wholeheartedly in one’s beliefs.
  • In dialogue, one searches for basic agreements.
    • In debate, one searches for glaring differences.
  • In dialogue one searches for strengths in the other positions.
    • In debate one searches for flaws and weaknesses in the other position.
  • Dialogue involves a real concern for the other person and seeks to not alienate or offend.
    • Debate involves a countering of the other position without focusing on feelings or relationship and often belittles or deprecates the other person.
  • Dialogue assumes that many people have pieces of the answer and that together they can put them into a workable solution.
    • Debate assumes that there is a right answer and that someone has it.
  • Dialogue remains open-ended.
    • Debate implies a conclusion.

    • Adapted from a paper prepared by Shelley Berman, which was based on discussions of the Dialogue Group of the Boston Chapter of Educators for Social Responsibility (ESR).

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