Civil Discourse & Resisting Polarization
American political culture is more polarized now that an any other time since the Civil War. Lazy binaries (liberal/conservative, red/blue, secular/liberal, life/choice) dominate our discourse: we imagine that we are opposed to "the other side" by definition.
Camosy's work resists this polarization through something he calls "intellectual solidarity." Instead of cariacture and attack, we respond to those who disagree with us with interest and, first of all, by listening. In so doing we not only often find common ground, but disagreements become from more precise, interesting, fruitful.
Camosy's experience in civil discourse & resisting polarization:
-
Invited to give McDonald Lectures at Oxford University on Peter Singer and Christian Ethics: Beyond Polarization
-
Founded the Catholic Conversation Project with the aim of to "thinking beyond the polarization in American Catholic life"
-
Organizer of "Polarization in the U.S. Catholic Church" conference at the University of Notre Dame
Media
Review:
"Strange Bedfellows: Peter Singer and the Church" (Marginalia Review of Books)
The Seattle Times | July 19, 2012
Congress is now more polarized than at any time since Civil War Reconstruction. As we barrel toward a nasty presidential election, things will get even worse. (More)
Christians and Atheist Ethics:
How Much Common Ground?
America Magazine Podcast