From “The Seven Democratic Virtues: What You Can Do to Overcome Tribalism and Save Our Democracy” by Christopher Beem
We know that our biases undermine our ability to perceive the world accurately. We know that we are unconscious of their operation and that even with metacognitive strategies, it is difficult for us to control those effects and impossible to overcome them. What is more, we know that tribalism has exacerbated our in-group bias. This has led to a downward spiral of distrust and animosity that makes it harder for us to sustain our democracy. If all this is true, then becoming aware of our biases and their operation helps us to become more aware of their impact on our thinking and makes it more possible for us to act consistently. German philosopher Immanuel Kant famously said that to will the end is to will the means. If you really want a goal, you have to also want the steps that you need to take in order to achieve it. In this case, if we really want to achieve consistency, then we ought to seek out those strategies that can help us achieve that end. We should value those who have a perspective we do not have. We should therefore welcome the criticism of others.
Anybody who follows politics right now will likely view this proposal as driving right past farfetched and into ludicrousness. It’s true that the prospects are dim for a useful exchange of helpful information with those we view with an antagonism verging on enmity. But it is not impossible. Of course, both parties have to be interested in such an exchange; it hardly works for one party to do all the criticizing or all the listening. (I say more about reciprocity in the chapter on charity.) This quest for consistency requires the other thinking virtues, too. Both parties have to start with the humility to recognize that all of us are subject to bias. They must likewise commit to reflect their opinions as honestly as they can. It might well be that for politicians and pundits, all the incentives point the other way, and therefore such a level of commitment is just not in the cards. But perhaps two old friends chatting over a cup of coffee might be able to. It would be difficult, to be sure, but the effort alone would constitute one little act that seeks to improve our democracy. And with enough such little acts, we might actually do so.