Believe Your Truth
Wed, Mar 01
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:
Prof. Blaschko's students should read this: Interactive Essay: John Stuart Mill's On Liberty
Prof. Christy's students should read and annotate this same text via Perusall.
Do This:
Prof. Blaschko's students: Read and annotate the short "Application Article" on Perusall.
Prof. Christy's students: Read the short "Application Article" on Perusall.
All students:
- 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.