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Viewpoint Diversity
A Melbourne Forum Interest Group
Hosted by:
Dr Michael Liffman AM
October 7, 2020 @ 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm
Free“Following an initial exploration of our varying understanding of this issue at our first session I hope we can bring further focus (and a few more participants) to our discussion through the links which have been put on our discussion board, especially the talk by Jonathan Haidt” – Dr Michael Liffman.
While the extent of the ‘cancel culture’ phenomenon may sometimes be exaggerated, I believe that the milder claim – that we operate in opinion ‘bubbles – is largely true, and a real threat to Australia’s civil society. Our political system, our media, and the innate workings of our individual psychology, all make it very difficult for us to be interested in and to respect opinions contrary to our own ie to value ‘viewpoint diversity’. We seek views that support our own, tend to barrack rather than be curious, and prefer to simplify issues rather than recognize complexity and nuance, and see the validity of doubt. In consequence our community is increasingly close-minded, divisive and adversarial, while we make little progress with the real ills we face.
This interest group will attempt to explore those boundaries and what is needed to become comfortable in diversity.
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