How to Disagree Productively: The Humility of Uncertainty
This is a great video from a debate champion Julia Dhar who shares insights on intellectual humility and finding common ground. One of the key points is the encouragement to evaluate ideas instead of people (identities). She says ideas need to be evaluated independent from the identity of the people that present them.
It is also interesting to note that debate is structured so normally the debater does not know going in which side of the argument he/she will take. So various arguments and facets of an issue are studied ahead of the dialogue in order to be prepared to represent either side.
Productive disagreement also involves a commitment ahead of time to the possibility of being wrong - what must it be like to change your mind? And it searches for immediate common ground in order to find a place from which persuasive dialogue can evolve.
Dialogue, debate and persuasion need not be win/lose, zero sum battles. The times I have changed my mind on something have not been the result of denouncement, name calling, ridicule or insult, how about you?
Pivots and growth in understanding have come from the patient persuasion of kindness, even in passionate disagreement, the generosity of honor where shame could have been sown, and intent listening in a culture of put-downs and posturing.