Do you want to make the world a more peaceful? Have more discussion, not less. Have more controversy, not less. Similar to teaching a young person to drink moderately, rather than teaching them to embrace abstinence, wrestling with controversial subject matter is a must for an intelligent and free person. It is better for the person, and better for the society.
Consider this quote from Tolstoy:
“If everyone made war only according to his own convictions, there would be no war.” Prince Andrei Bolkonsky, Page 25
Basic assumptions
- Some problems are properly solved intellectually, rationally, and voluntary (almost everything important)
2. Some problems solved with violence (some break into your house, attacks you, invades your country, etc)
3. Moral and intellectual virtues are like muscles, with practice they are developed, with disuse, they atrophy.
Ground Rules for Rational Discussion:
- No fallacies (no irrelevant attacks, but focus on the argument at hand; see my articles on Fallacies here, here, )
- Respect for Truth and Right (see my article Rational Discussion)
- Respect for the Other Members of the Discussion
Negatives of avoiding controversy
- Avoiding controversy atrophies your own convictions.
- Avoiding controversy is itself a statement of relevance (something that can be compartmentalized into another part of your life, means that you are not willing to confront the ill effects of taking a public stand)
- Avoiding controversy allows for collecting false friends and superficial associations (think of Aristotle’s analysis of Friendship, based on Utility, Pleasure, Goodness)
Positives of regularly confronting controversy
- If you can be the person that confronts controversy, then you can be a leader, and a force for good (leaders confront controversial issues)
- If you’re regularly investing in dealing with substantial matters, then the superficial matters are getting less attention
- If you develop your intellect and your moral courage, then you are encouraging all those around you to be better people (wrestling with controversy does just that)
- Positively changes your investment of time and energy (think about when people compare the salary of NBA stars to teachers, or soldiers, and some lament that the stars should get less; with a bit of economics in mind, in a free market, people who support the sport, vote with their dollar to give players raises. When you devote your time and money to being more intelligent, well-spoken, and positively-influential, then you’re investing in education)
What can you do to help develop yourself and others
- Organize your thoughts on controversial matters
- Understand the moral and rational implications of moral and rational thought: the implications actually matter- meaning, if you find that one of your core beliefs is wrong, than you are obligated to modify your beliefs; if you find that your lifestyle is wrong, than you are obligated to change your lifestyle (if you aren’t willing to do that, are you a person of integrity at all?)
Homework for your personal growth
- Make a list of controversial issues that are live today
- Articulate in writing what you think on them
- Expose the argument that you think is compelling in front of others (be respectful, though)
- If you don’t feel comfortable talking about these things, in front of your friends, family, coworkers, ask yourself why this is the case.
- Explore these topics: God, Economic Theory, Abortion, Racism, Gun Rights, Euthanasia, Charity vs Taxed Welfare, Socialism vs Capitalism
Great websites along similar lines:

I am a philosopher that is interested in what makes life worth living, what is worth pursuing, and how we can learn from the past. I believe that good philosophy benefits everyone and that there should be philosophers that present philosophy to those outside of the academy.