Civil discourse is the practice of deliberating about matters of public concern with others in a way that seeks to expand knowledge and promote understanding. The word "civil" relates directly to civic in the sense of being oriented toward public life, and less directly to civility, in the sense of mere politeness. Discourse is defined as the use of written or spoken communications, similar to having a conversation. Civil discourse includes the practice of deliberating about things that are of concern to society in a way that seeks to help all participants understand each other. It is an essential part of democratic citizenship and is thus a fundamental aspect of freedom of speech, characterized by dialogue that supports the societal good." For civil discourse to truly be effective as a democratic tool, all people need to be heard and share their viewpoints. Civil discourse involves more than just politeness; it involves disagreement without disrespect, seeking common ground, listening beyond preconceptions, and remaining present in dialogues despite deep disagreements. This can help develop better public policies that benefit all people of a society. Members of the U.S. Supreme Court session in 2011 aptly described civil discourse as "robust, honest, frank and constructive dialogue and deliberation that seeks to advance the public interest." Viewpoints are grounded in reason and evidence, adhering to strict guidelines for the appropriate behavior to be practiced. In contrast, uncivil discourse contains direct insults, unwarranted attributions of motive, and open contempt." Civil discourse has its foundation on several key values:
Self-awareness and mindfulness Practices such as active listening, being present, and interrogating one's identity markers Mindfulness practices (this help individuals remain peaceful and open during discussions, enhancing their ability to engage respectfully and constructively.) One common misconception about civil discourse is that it necessitates the avoidance of conflicts. Some erroneously equate civil communication with excessive politeness. However, civil discourse does not demand people-pleasing; rather, it encourages effective discussion over disagreements. In this way, individuals with differing opinions can embrace conflicts to objectively understand a subject. Effective civil discourse involves critical engagement and honest feedback, which can sometimes be challenging but is essential for growth and understanding. However, individuals engaging in civil discourse should avoid debating, responding with retorts or attacks, and be willing to stand their ground respectfully.
Civil discourse is an aspect of democratic citizenship that forums and Universities are expected to promote. Forums and universities are expected to create an environment where ideas can be exchanged and discussed openly, supported by the concepts of sharing ideas, freedom to learn, and encouraging analytic thinking. These institutions can enjoy the rights and protections they do because it is understood that they are essential to promote learning, knowledge expansion, and freedom of information. The implementation of civil discourse in educational settings, particularly in online and hybrid learning environments, has been shown to enhance students' ability to engage in meaningful and respectful discussions on controversial topics. highlights how structured online discussion threads, supported by clear rubrics and continuous feedback, can foster a deeper understanding and application of civil discourse among graduate students. Libraries stimulate civil discourse engagement through the concept of freedom of information by serving the community access to information regardless of the socioeconomic status and with this covering population that may not have university access.
Civil discourse requires maturity of individuals, and capability to be rational and autonomous in thinking. It requires that individuals can critically analyze their own predisposed values and beliefs which may be influencing them against society's good. Engaging in civil discourse broadens one's intellectual scope, considers and reflects upon the views of others in society, and integrates those ideas when an individual recognizes the benefits. It is the responsibility of all members of society to actively participate in productive and respectful discourse, as this practice dismantles the rigidity of oppression and fosters a mental space where society's true nature and potential can be recognized.
Within countries which value and uphold freedom of speech, civil discourse is believed to enhance objectives and ideas. However, in many other countries it may be valued to varying degrees. Primarily in democratic nations, civil discourse is necessary and encouraged. The sharing and integration of ideas from all citizens allows for implementation of policies that enact the most favorable outcomes for the most people. In other nations, specifically those where democracy is not practiced, civil discourse is still valuable and necessary for discussion and reasoning through societal issues that are decided within communities. Historically, we see consequences of intolerance and failures of civil discourse within authoritarian governments such as Nazi Germany, the Soviet Union, or Maoist China. In these societies civil discourse was heavily discouraged including by violence, torture, or excommunication. Within the United States during McCarthyism there was a lack of open debate regarding topics which were taboo at the time such as Communism and homosexuality.
Some challenges to civil discourse include epistemic injustice, intolerance, and censorship. Epistemic injustice relates to the "distributive unfairness in respect of epistemic goods such as information or education" as described by Miranda Fricker. Not all facts are distributed equally, and with the introduction of targeted advertisements and algorithmic matching of information to consumers on most social media platforms, this issue is exacerbated. Additionally, intolerance of ideas threatens civil discourse as it has led to unreasonable attacks on the moral character of individuals, causing hesitancy to openly share ideas. Herbert Marcuse argues that complete tolerance is serving oppression, as it requires tolerance of even oppressive ideas, which is effectively tolerance of censorship. Censorship is forcible suppression of opposition, which is a component of authoritarianism and also threatens public discourse, and the decisions of most free societies, as it skews an individual's perception of the societal climate toward a bias that is not representative of the actual feelings of a society. However, if the censorship is kept in a microcensorship form, then it has the ability to escape the pitfalls of the macrocensorship described above. To further elaborate, microcensorship is more of a localized censorship – one that gets imposed in a smaller form and often comes from an institution such as a library, local bookstore, or some other small group of individuals.Pepper, C. (2024, Summer). Written Lecture Freedom of Expression and Intellectual Freedom. INFO/LIS 420&520 Class. University of Arizona; University of Arizona.
The necessity to practice civil discourse has grown over the years as digital engagement has become a predominant means of communication, technology has created a more global environment and increased self-expression. Various studies have adopted uses for applying civil discourse to their methods and similar guidelines can be referenced, such as civil discourse in government, ethics, science, or education. Different ways of practicing or understanding civil discourse can be in self-expression (art), the use of tolerance as intolerance (ethics), misinformation and disinformation (digital communication), and in political and social issues.
Definition
The definition of civil, in civil discourse, in context refers to being civic or relating to public life.
The definition of discourse according to linguistics expert Rukya Hassen, from Wollo University in Ethiopia, says it's a way to debate or discuss "aspects of the world." She divides discourse into three applications:
Discussion about the processes, relations, and structures of the material world. Discussion about the thoughts, feelings, and beliefs of the mental world. Discussion about the social world.
According to Hassen, "discourse has become both the means and the end of knowledge and its transmission."
Through these definitions, civil discourse is the practice of debating important matters in a way that considers public life.
History
Early years In Book III of An Essay Concerning Human Understanding (1690), philosopher John Locke contrasts between civil and philosophical discourse (or rhetorical discourse) emphasizing the importance of communication for public good. public good: Locke's ideas laid the groundwork for understanding civil discourse as a tool for societal benefit.
One of the most influential works on civil discourse comes from John Stuart Mill in their 1859 essay titled "On Liberty". In the defense of the freedom of expression, Mill wrote "If all of mankind minus one were of one opinion, and only one person were of the contrary opinion, mankind would be no more justified in silencing that one person than he, if he had the power, would be justified in silencing mankind." Mill argued that allowing individuals to freely express unpopular or dissenting opinions is crucial to progressing society. Mill introduced the concept of the "marketplace of ideas" which suggests that free and open debate allows for the best ideas to be used while discrediting harmful ideas. He believed that suppressing dissenting viewpoints stifles moral progress. This is a utilitarianism argument against censorship and simultaneously for intellectual freedom. Mill argues that getting down to the truth typically increases overall happiness because the truth is what most individuals are seeking. With this in mind, a utilitarian should support minimal-to-nonexistent censorship because its natural increase of overall happiness is the end goal and a direct result.
19th Century John Stuart Mill's 1859 essay On Liberty is a cornerstone in the history of civil discourse. Mill argued for the freedom of expression, positing that open debate is essential for societal progress. His concept of the "marketplace of ideas" suggests that free and open debate allows the best ideas to prevail. Mill argues that free thought and speech are important for the acquisition of true beliefs and for individual growth and development. Similarly, in "On Liberty," Mill asserts that all ideas, even those considered false or unpopular, should be freely discussed and debated. This is because truth is often discovered through the clash of differing ideas and opinions. In short, Mill's argument hinges on the idea that determination of truth among ideas by civil discourse is necessary for moving society forward, and that free speech is necessary for the mechanism of civil discourse to properly function.
In the digital age, civil discourse faces new challenges and opportunities. Social media platforms have expanded the potential for interaction but also introduced issues like cyberbullying and misinformation. Initiatives like Stanford University's AI chatbot moderator aim to promote civil discourse online by moderating discussions and reducing hostility.
20th Century