A   C O D E   O F   C O N D U C T

Thirteen principles for conducting discussions of disputed issues are listed below. Following these guidelines provides two benefits:

One, they are effective. A discussion using these principles is more likely than one which doesn't to arrive at a satisfactory conclusion, because the principles keep the participants focused less on being "right" or "winning" than on coming as close as possible to objective truth.

Two, they are ethical. They establish a framework for discussion in which it is possible for persons to disagree with courtesy, to fairly examine all pertinent views so that all participants may profit, and to establish an environment in which difficult questions may be asked with some hope of gaining insight into their natures--and possibly even their resolutions.

1. The Fallibility Principle

Admit that you can be wrong. Judge your own beliefs at least as critically as you judge those of others. Be capable of changing your mind when you encounter an argument more sound than your own.

2. The Truth-Seeking Principle

Emphasize the following order: Facts, then conclusions. Be determined to accept good evidence from any source. When the preponderance of the evidence favors a conclusion other than your own, accept that other conclusion . . . and thank whoever helped you reach it for assisting you in gaining a better understanding of your world.

3. The Burden of Proof Principle

It's as valid for discussions as for law and debate: The burden of proof rests with the person who makes the affirmative claim that some thing is so. When you make such a claim, be ready to back it up with good evidence correctly organized; likewise, it is entirely fair to expect the same of others when they make affirmative claims.

4. The Principle of Charity

When reconstructing another person's argument for your own understanding, give the other person the benefit of the doubt. Don't weaken their arguments to make them easier for you to knock down. Doing so just reduces your own opportunities for a potentially clearer understanding of the issue. You don't have to make their arguments for them; just try to view the arguments they do make in their strongest possible form. If your conclusion survives its strongest counterargument, you can feel more confident about the correctness of your position.

5. The Clarity Principle

Even better than assuming is to actually ask for clarification when your understanding of a disputant's position is unclear. Likewise, always try to be as clear and concise as possible when presenting your own views.

6. The Objectivity Principle

Don't take it personally. Just because someone disagrees with one of your beliefs doesn't mean that your character is being questioned or challenged. There's no need to accept rudeness, but someone who simply disagrees with one of your opinions is not being rude. To treat disagreement as though it is a personal attack is a cheap way to avoid defending your opinions. If you're going to state an opinion, you should be prepared to defend it on an objective basis.

7. The Relevance Principle

The assertions of an argument should be relevant to the question; that is, they should help to decide the truth or falsehood of the question.

8. The Acceptability Principle

The assertions of an argument should be acceptable to those involved in the discussion. If someone questions an assertion, it should be backed up with evidence and logic, or else retracted--and if that causes the entire argument to fail, so be it. However, that doesn't mean that every assertion should be open to infinite question; some things must be agreed upon by all parties or discussion becomes impossible. Be firm about expecting questionable assertions to be backed up . . . but be reasonable about it, too.

9. The Sufficient Grounds Principle

The assertions of an argument should be sufficient to allow participants of a discussion to decide the question, either "yes, it has been proved" or "no, it has not been proved" (which is not the same as "disproved").

10. The Rebuttal Principle

An argument should address as vigorously as possible any counterarguments. Without doing so, it is not possible to gauge the closeness to objective truth of your own conclusion. Likewise, you do others a favor when you produce the strongest reasonable counterarguments to their arguments, as doing so gives them something against which to test their own conclusions. Just as you assist them in testing the worth of their claims, they help you assess the value of your own. Encourage responsible counterarguments, and address them as seriously as you can in your own arguments.

11. The Resolution Principle

When someone provides relevant, acceptable, and sufficient assertions as part of an argument for an affirmative claim, and satisfactorily answers all reasonable objections to both those assertions and the resulting conclusion, the question should be considered resolved. If no such satisfaction proves possible, then the best argument should be accepted by all the participants on a conditional basis, subject to any new information which meets all the same criteria.

12. The Suspension of Judgement Princple

If no position comes close to being satisfactory, of if two or more positions are found to have equal merit (a rare situation), then the participants should agree to suspend judgement on the issue. If events in the real world require a decision (as, for example, a juror asked to pass a sentence of death on a convicted murderer might face), then the question must be decided on the grounds of the risks entailed in not suspending judgement on the question.

13. The Reconsideration Principle

Humans are finite beings with limited capacities for understanding; consequently, it is impossible for any of us to fully apprehend objective truth. This means that no question can ever be considered completely settled. Therefore, if truly new information comes to light concerning some question which until then had been considered adequately settled (given our limitations), then we should be prepared to reconsider that question using all the principles above.

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