|
Dialogue is collaborative: two or more sides
work together toward common understanding
|
Debate is oppositional: two sides oppose each
other and attempt to prove each other wrong
|
|
In dialogue finding common ground is the goal
|
In debate winning is the goal
|
|
In dialogue one listens to the other side(s) in
order to understand, find meaning, and find
agreement
|
In debate one listens to the other side in order to
find flaws and to counter its arguments
|
|
Dialogue enlarges and possibly changes a
participant's point of view
|
Debate affirms a participant's own point of view
|
|
Dialogue complicates positions and issues
|
Debate simplifies positions and issues
|
|
Dialogue reveals assumptions for reevaluation
|
Debate defends assumptions as truth
|
|
Dialogue causes introspection on one's own
position
|
Debate causes critique of the other position
|
|
It is acceptable to change one's position
|
It is a sign of weakness and defeat to change one's position
|
|
Dialogue is flexible in nature
|
Debate is rigid in nature
|
|
Dialogue stresses the skill of synthesis
|
Debate stresses the skill of analysis
|
|
Dialogue opens the possibility of reaching a
better solution than either of the original
solutions
|
Debate defends one's own position as the best
solution and excludes other solutions
|
|
Dialogue strives for multiplicity in perspective
|
Debate strives for singularity in perspective
|
|
Dialogue affirms the relationship between the
participants through collaboration
|
Debate affirms one's own strength in opposition
to other points of view
|
|
Dialogue creates an open-minded attitude: an
openness to being wrong and to change
|
Debate creates a closed-minded attitude, a
determination to be right
|
|
In dialogue one submits one's best thinking,
knowing that other peoples' reflections will help
improve it rather than destroy it
|
In debate one submits one's best thinking and
defends it against challenges to show that it is
right
|
|
Dialogue calls for temporarily suspending one's
beliefs
|
Debate calls for investing wholeheartedly in
one's beliefs
|
|
In dialogue one searches for basic agreements
|
In debate one searches for glaring differences
|
|
In dialogue one searches for strengths in the
other position
|
In debate one searches for flaws and
weaknesses in the other position
|
|
Dialogue involves a real concern for the other
person and seeks to not alienate or offend
|
Debate involves a countering of the other
position without focusing on feelings or
relationship and often belittles or deprecates the
other position
|
|
Dialogue assumes that many people have pieces
of the answer and that together they can put
them into a workable answer
|
Debate assumes that there is a right answer and
that someone has it
|
|
Dialogue encourages de-polarization of an issue
|
Debate encourages polarization of an issue
|
|
In dialogue everyone is part of the solution to the
problem
|
In debate one person or viewpoint wins over the
other
|
|
Dialogue affirms the idea of people learning from
each other
|
Debate affirms the idea of people learning
individually in competition with others
|
|
Dialogue remains open-ended
|
Debate implies a conclusion
|
Woodrow Wilson Index
