Train for any argument with Harvard’s former debate coach | Bo Seo

Big Think2 minutes read

Bo Seo emphasizes the crisis in public conversations due to the lack of good argument skills and introduces the 'RISA Framework' to wisely navigate disagreements by checking if they are real, important, specific, and aligned in objectives. Debaters are advised to actively listen, start disagreements with agreement, and challenge their certainty to foster humility and empathy in discussions, applying the 'RISA Framework' in family gatherings to navigate disagreements effectively.

Insights

  • Bo Seo emphasizes the necessity of using the 'RISA Framework' to navigate disagreements effectively, ensuring that arguments are real, important, specific, and aligned in objectives before engaging.
  • Active listening, starting with agreement, and challenging one's certainty by considering opposing arguments are key strategies suggested by Bo Seo to foster productive and empathetic conversations, ultimately enhancing the quality of public discourse.

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Recent questions

  • How can I navigate disagreements effectively?

    By applying the 'RISA Framework' - check if it's real, important, specific, and aligned in objectives before engaging.

  • What is the 'RISA Framework' in conversations?

    It involves checking if a disagreement is real, important, specific, and aligned in objectives before engaging in it.

  • How can I enhance conversations through active listening?

    Understand the opposition's argument and respond to the strongest version of it to improve the conversation.

  • Why is it important to start disagreements with agreement?

    Starting with agreement and negotiating reasons for the conversation is crucial for productive discussions.

  • How can debaters foster humility and empathy in discussions?

    By challenging their certainty, imagining opposing arguments, identifying flaws in their case, and considering a world where they lost the debate.

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Summary

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Reviving Public Conversations: The RISA Framework

  • Bo Seo, a two-time world debate champion and author of "Good Arguments," highlights the crisis in public conversations due to the lack of good argument skills.
  • Seo emphasizes the need to restore confidence in disagreements and introduces the 'RISA Framework' to wisely pick fights in conversations.
  • The 'RISA Framework' involves checking if a disagreement is real, important, specific, and aligned in objectives before engaging in it.
  • Seo suggests applying the 'RISA Framework' in family gatherings to navigate personal or political disagreements effectively.
  • The importance of starting disagreements with agreement and negotiating the reasons for engaging in the conversation is stressed for productive discussions.
  • Debaters are advised to actively listen by understanding the opposition's argument and responding to the strongest version of it to enhance the conversation.
  • Seo encourages debaters to challenge their certainty by imagining the opposing side's arguments, identifying flaws in their own case, and considering a world where they lost the debate to foster humility and empathy in discussions.
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