Believe Your Truth
Mon, Oct 09
What role does disagreement play in the good life? What does it mean to respect the perspectives and evidence of people who disagree with you? And how worried should we be about forming moral beliefs, political beliefs, or philosophical beliefs in an "echo chamber"? In this class, we'll be considering the relationship between rationality, disagreement, and respect.
We have three main learning goals for this day. You will:
- Understand the background context, and substance, of Mill's argument for robust, unfettered, open disagreement
- Reflect on the proper influence of individual backgrounds and starting points in belief formation
- Form your own view on the proper (epistemic) response to disagreement and diversity of beliefs.
Read This:
Primary: Interactive Essay: John Stuart Mill's On Liberty
Secondary: Seeking Disagreement: A Win-win?
Do This:
Required:
- Make sure you've completed the "How We Argue" (ThinkerAnalytix) course up in its entirety (up through lesson 10) by today's class.
- After you've finished today's reading, make sure you complete the reading quiz, which you can access through your section's Canvas page.
Suggested: Are you afraid of disagreeing with people? Suppose you went to a party with people you knew only somewhat well and someone said something you thought was deeply offensive / wrong / objectionable. Would you say anything? Why or why not? Try disagreeing with someone respectfully at the dining hall today.