Effective and civil discussion is absolutely essential in reestablishing science on its firm foundation. Since discussion has
in recent times become less and less clearly centered on its purpose — which is to get to the truth — we find we have
developed bad habits of discussion. Indeed it often happens that, despite our good intentions, discussions degenerate
into incivility. It is our hope that the following thoughts will help restore the right emphasis and civility in conversation.
l) The aim of discussion is to arrive at a precise statement of a problem and a true answer. It is profitable if progress in achieving this goal is made even if there is not ultimate success.
2) The first step in critical thinking must be to state a problem clearly in the form A is B, or at least that A is not B.
Many disagreements arise from not being clear about what problem is to be solved.
3) lf you are speaking to someone who has more education and knowledge in the field under discussion, give deference
to him. This means that conversation will not equally split with each person speaking 50 % of the time. Clearly, the
one who has more knowledge will necessarily have to spend more time relating it.
a)
The receiver of knowledge should not resent the giver merely because the giver gives more, i.e. speaks more. Indeed,
like the receiver of a wonderful material gift, the spiritual gift of knowledge should be received with sincere appreciation. Few who receive a gift of gold will respond with accusations of unfairness about the inequity involved of them not being able to respond in kind. Rather, most will receive it with great thanks and enthusiasm as lottery winners do. Since the spiritual gift of knowledge is literally infinitely more valuable, the gratitude of the receiver of knowledge
should be immense.
b) One essential way of showing gratitude to the giver, which is also an exercise of justice, is to remember his gift and acknowledge him to others. Remembering is key in the process of finding and verifying trustworthy sources, for one needs to remember who has given what to be able to note whose information is reliable.
The giver should always act and respond charitably to the receiver, never using his knowledge as a club to assert superiority. Instead, the giver should remember that his own knowledge is ultimately itself a gift. Even first hand knowledge is not our own, for it ultimately comes from the external world, which in turn is from God.
c)
Both sides should be grateful for the opportunity for discussion, because, if nothing else, it is an opportunity to be present to your fellowman, through the exercise of the highest human power: the intellect. After all, you are conversing with a being made in the very image of God and in that very conversing you are manifesting and seeing manifested that image, which is man’s intellectual power. Beyond this, the receiver should be thankful for the new understanding he receives and the giver for the new perspective opened up to his own mind by carefully answering the points made
by the receiver. For each party, it is the opportunity to serve his fellowman.
