TED the lost art of democratic argument失落了的民主辩论艺术

TED the lost art of democratic argument

失

落了的民主辩论艺术

One

thing

the

world

need,

one

thing

the

country

desperately

needs,

it

’

s

a

better

way

of

conducting our political debates. We need to rediscover the lost art of democratic argument.

Ex: shouting matches on cable TV .

ideological food fights on the floor of Congress(usa)

Over

the

gap

between

rich

and

poor.

Over

the

affirmative(

肯定赞成

)

action

and

the

same-sex marriage.

What I would like to do today is have sth of a discussion.

First

,

let

me

take

a

famous

philosopher

who

wrote

about

those

questions

of

justice

morality.--------- ARISTOTLE

’

s theory of justice:

According to the theory: justice means giving people what they deserve.

1

.Flutes

example:

supposing

we

’

re

distributing

flutes.

who

should

get

the

best

one?

At

random. First person. Best flute players------the greatest benefit to all.

Aristotle:

that

’

s what flutes are for: to be played well.

We

sometimes

should

reason

about

and

argue

about

the

purpose

of

the

thing

of

the

social

activity,

in

this case,

musical

performance.

One

of

the

reasons:

The

musical

performance

is

not

only to make the rest of us happy, but to honor and recognize the excellence of the best musicians.

2.

Let

’

s take another contemporary

example of the dispute about justice. Golf

Golf : ask the PGA

for permission to use a golf car. The laws says that disabled

must

be

accommodated,

provided

the

accommodation

does

not

change

the

essential

nature

of

activities.

Take a poll(

举手表决

)

：

have a good division of the opinion (half to half)

Not reason: be an unfair advantage. Walking the course is strenuous physical exercise. The fatigue

factor is an important part of the golf.

Approve : ca r is not part of the game.

About the ruling and about discussion on what is the essential nature of sth.

Let me put the point as delicately as possible: golf players are a little sensitive about the athletic

status of the game.

It would be hard to confer on the golfing greats the status that we confer, the

honor and recognition that goes to truly great athletes.

That illustrates it is hard to decide the questions of what justice requires.

What is the essential nature of the activity and what qualities what

excellence connected with

that activity are worthy of honor and recognition?

ent in contemporary political debate: the same sex marriage.

There is a tendency to think that if we engage too directly with moral questions and politics.

That

’

s a recipe for disagreement, and for that matter , a recipe for intolerance

（不可容忍的）

and