Social reality is so complicated that, once you join one team or the other, you become specialized in detecting certain patterns, but you become blind to other patterns.
Jonathan HaidtRead
When you hear someone criticize a policy on the other side, that's fine. But when you start hearing motive-mongering and demonization, stand up to it just as you would if it were something that was racist or sexist. If we avoid the demonization, disagreements can be positive.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Criticism should focus on policies, not personal attacks; constructive disagreement is valuable.
In this quote, Jonathan Haidt emphasizes the importance of separating policy critique from personal attacks. He points out that while it is normal to disagree with opposing viewpoints, resorting to demonization and questioning motives detracts from productive dialogue. Instead, he encourages individuals to confront these negative tactics, as maintaining respect in disagreements can lead to more meaningful and constructive discussions.
Themes
CriticismDisagreementDemonizationRespectDialogue
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a debate setting to emphasize the importance of respectful discourse.
More from Jonathan Haidt
All quotes →Understanding the simple fact that morality differs around the world, and even within societies, is the first step toward understanding your righteous mind.
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Suppose you read about a pill that you could take once a day to reduce anxiety and increase your contentment. Would you take it? Suppose further that the pill has a great variety of side effects, all of them good: increased self-esteem, empathy, and trust; it even improves memory. Suppose, finally, that the pill is all natural and costs nothing. Now would you take it? The pill exists. It is meditation.
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Trying to run Congress without human relationships is like trying to run a car without motor oil. Should we be surprised when the whole thing freezes up?
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If you grow up in a WEIRD society, you become so well educated in the ethic of autonomy that you can detect oppression and inequality even where the apparent victims see nothing wrong.
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We humans are really good at forming groups to compete, and then dissolving the groups and reforming them along different lines to compete in a different way.
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