UB Professor: In Politics, It's a Good Idea to Listen to Each Other
April 23, 2015
Contact: University Relations
Phone: 410.837.5739
In an op-ed in The Baltimore Sun, Joshua J. Kassner, associate professor in the Yale Gordon College of Arts and Sciences, says that the only way to improve the nation's political discourse—and thus improve the quality of those elected to public office—is for Americans to start listening to each other when discussing the issues.
"[T]he upcoming election cycle provides an opportunity to redefine and reconstruct the basic tenor of our political culture. It's simple: Be charitable. Obviously, this is not about tithing or giving money. It's about how we understand one another, especially those with whom we disagree," Kassner writes. "It is a basic principle of philosophical discourse, and embracing it would fundamentally alter the nature of political dialogue in the United States."
Kassner, who teaches in the Division of Legal, Ethical and Historical Studies and directs the University's B.A. in Jurisprudence program, says that politicians who use attack ads and other methods of marginalizing or demonizing their opponents are a reflection of the values of the electorate. By being charitable, he says, the whole process of politics could become healthier.
"Under the principle of charity, we presume that those who disagree with us have understandable reasons for believing what they do, and it does not inherently mean that they are irrational or evil," Kassner writes. "The principle of charity compels us to be humble and reflective about our own beliefs, and it makes sincere exchanges between those who disagree possible. "
Read the op-ed.
Learn more about Prof. Kassner.