{"id":31415,"date":"2021-05-25T07:47:37","date_gmt":"2021-05-25T03:47:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.mauritiustimes.com\/mt\/?p=31415"},"modified":"2021-05-25T07:47:37","modified_gmt":"2021-05-25T03:47:37","slug":"talking-politics-in-2021-lessons-on-humility-and-truth-seeking-from-benjamin-franklin","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mauritiustimes.com\/mt\/talking-politics-in-2021-lessons-on-humility-and-truth-seeking-from-benjamin-franklin\/","title":{"rendered":"Talking politics in 2021: Lessons on humility and truth-seeking from Benjamin Franklin"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/span><\/h4>\n

<\/h4>\n

Benjamin Franklin spoke and wrote in ways that, if taken up now, could begin to erode the polarization of the current era<\/span><\/h4>\n

<\/p>\n

The previous year in the United States was a turbulent one, filled with political strife, protests over racism and a devastating pandemic. Underlying all three has been a pervasive political polarization, made worse by a breakdown in civic \u2013 and civil \u2013 discourse, not only on Capitol Hill, but around the nation.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/span>Men arguing about COVID-19 restrictions at a protest in Woodland Hills, Calif. on May 16, 2020.<\/span>\u00a0David McNew\/Getty Images<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

In a new year, with a new president and a new Congress, there appears to be opportunity. Americans, starting with the president, are talking about turning away from the division of the recent past and choosing a different direction: talking civilly and productively about the problems the country faces.<\/span><\/p>\n

But how to do that? As a literary scholar, I appreciate the power of carefully crafted language, and I believe that Americans \u2013 from those in government to those around the dinner table \u2013 could take a lesson from one of this nation\u2019s founders and greatest communicators: Benjamin Franklin.<\/span><\/p>\n

From \u2018positive Argumentation\u2019 to \u2018modest Diffidence\u2019<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Before he achieved fame as a statesman, scientist and diplomat, Franklin, who was born in 1706 and died in 1790, made his living in Philadelphia from words \u2013 as a printer, journalist and essayist.<\/span><\/p>\n

Having worked early in his life in Boston for his brother James, a fiery journalist, he knew the kind of war that could be waged with words and had even made a hobby of debating with a young friend.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe sometimes disputed,\u201d Franklin recalled in his autobiography, \u201cand very fond we were of Argument, & very desirous of confuting one another.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Everything changed for Franklin, however, after he came across some examples of Socratic dialogue, in which questions figure prominently. \u201cI was charmed with it,\u201d Franklin wrote, \u201cadopted it, drop my abrupt Contradiction, and positive Argumentation, and put on the humble Enquirer & Doubter.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The inspired Franklin eventually changed his entire manner of discourse, communicating \u201cin terms of modest Diffidence\u201d instead of positive assertion, dropping words such as \u201ccertainly\u201d and \u201cundoubtedly\u201d and substituting \u201cI should think it so or so\u201d and \u201cit is so, if I am not mistaken.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

After all, Franklin wrote, \u201ca positive, assuming manner\u201d tends to turn off an audience and thus undermines one\u2019s own intentions.<\/span><\/p>\n

Such positive assertion can interfere with the exchange of valuable information. \u201cIf you wish information and improvement from the knowledge of others,\u201d Franklin wrote, \u201cand yet at the same time express yourself as firmly fixed in your present opinions, modest, sensible men, who do not love disputation, will probably leave you undisturbed in the possession of your error.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

In 2021, replacing positive assertions in conversations with some \u201cterms of modest Diffidence\u201d just might lead to exchanges that are not only more civil, but also more productive.<\/span><\/p>\n

Pursuing truth, not victory<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

More important than modest expression is actual intellectual humility, and here again Franklin\u2019s example is instructive. Even before he turned his inquiring mind to groundbreaking discoveries in electricity, he showed a scientist\u2019s dedication to open, objective investigation with only truth as its object.<\/span><\/p>\n

In 1727, when he was still in his early 20s, he founded a group called the Junto. Members, including a number of tradesmen like Franklin, took up political, philosophical and other questions such as \u201cDoes the Importation of Servants increase or advance the Wealth of our Country?\u201d and \u201cWherein consists the Happiness of a rational Creature?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The goal of these discussions, as Franklin explained, was not victory \u2013 as it apparently had been for Franklin and his friend years earlier \u2013 but something far more valuable for all concerned. Franklin explained that the discussions were to take place \u201cin the sincere Spirit of Enquiry after Truth, without fondness for Dispute, or Desire of Victory.\u201d Anyone who spoke too confidently or contentiously had to pay a small fine.<\/span><\/p>\n

This preference for pursuing truth over seeking victory found expression in a question that initiates were required to answer: \u201cDo you love and pursue truth for its own sake?\u201d Franklin did, and the results speak for themselves.<\/span><\/p>\n

Franklin also had a prescient understanding of biases that color humans\u2019 understanding of reality.<\/span><\/p>\n

Today, scientists have shown that people are susceptible to mere exposure effect, a preference for information we have encountered multiple times and confirmation bias, an inclination toward information that aligns with a person\u2019s current beliefs. In an essay he published in the 1730s, Franklin wrote of the effect of \u201cPrevailing Opinions\u201d on the individual mind and observed, \u201cA Man can hardly forbear wishing those Things to be true and right, which he apprehends would be for his Conveniency to find so.\u201d He added, \u201cThat Man only, who is ready to change his Mind upon proper Conviction, is in the Way to come at the Knowledge of Truth.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Franklin lived up to this principle. In 1751, he published an essay expressing reprehensible, racist views that were all too common in his era. Years later, however, he helped found schools to educate black children and, after visiting one, saw that the students were equal to white children in their ability to learn.<\/span><\/p>\n

He wound up changing not only his mind but also his essay when he reprinted it almost two decades later, changing the passage that said that most slaves were thieves \u201cby Nature\u201d to say that they were thieves because of slavery.<\/span><\/p>\n

[Like what you\u2019ve read? Want more? Sign up for The Conversation\u2019s daily newsletter.]<\/span><\/p>\n

Near the end of his life, Franklin became president of the Pennsylvania Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery and submitted to Congress a petition to abolish slavery and end the slave trade.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2018Obliged by better information \u2026 to change opinions\u2019<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

At the Constitutional Convention of 1787, Franklin expressed his belief in intellectual humility. As James Madison recorded his words, Franklin said, \u201cFor having lived long, I have experienced many instances of being obliged by better information, or fuller consideration, to change opinions even on important subjects, which I once thought right, but found to be otherwise.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt is therefore that the older I grow,\u201d he added, \u201cthe more apt I am to doubt my own judgment, and to pay more respect to the judgment of others.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Near the end of the speech, he implored others to adopt this same humility: \u201cOn the whole, Sir, I cannot help expressing a wish that every member of the Convention who may still have objections to it, would with me, on this occasion doubt a little of his own infallibility, and to make manifest our unanimity, put his name to this instrument.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

As these words and experience testify, political polarization and dispute are nothing new. But Franklin managed to rise above the discord, biases and close-mindedness that are common in any era.<\/span><\/p>\n

He spoke and wrote in ways that, if taken up now, could begin to erode the polarization of the current era: with modesty, diffidence, sincere consideration of others\u2019 positions, doubt in his own infallibility and love of truth for its own sake.<\/span><\/p>\n

Mark Canada<\/strong><\/span>
\nExecutive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, <\/span>
\nIndiana University<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

* Published in print edition on 25 May 2021<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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