Dialogue and Debate

• Dialogue is collaborative. Multiple sides work towards shared understanding.
• Debate is appositional. Two opposing sides try to prove each other wrong.
• In dialogue, one listens to understand, to make meaning, and to find common ground.
• In debate, one listens to find flaws, to spot differences, and to counter arguments.
• Dialogue enlarges and possibly changes a participant's view.
• Debate affirms a participant's point of view.
• Dialogue reveals assumptions for reevaluation.
• Debate defends assumptions as truth.
• Dialogue creates an open-minded attitude, an openness to being wrong and an openness to change.
• Debate creates a close-minded attitude, a determination to be right.
• In dialogue, one submits one's best thinking, expecting that the reflections of others will help improve it rather than threaten it.
• In debate, one submits one's best thinking and defends it against a challenge to show that it is right.
• In dialogue, one searches for the strengths in all positions.
• In debate, one searches for the weaknesses in the other positions.
• Dialogue respects all the other participants and seeks not to alienate or offend.
• Debate rebuts contrary positions and may belittle or deprecate other participants.
• Dialogue assumes that many people have pieces of answers and that cooperation can lead to workable solutions.
• Debate assumes a single right answer that someone already has.
• Dialogue remains open-ended.
• Debate demands a conclusion.

from: Peter Winchell, Consultant. Socratic Seminars West.