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cover of episode How to Restore Civil Discourse – A Talmudic Guide

How to Restore Civil Discourse – A Talmudic Guide

2025/5/29
logo of podcast Think Twice with Jonathan Tobin (f.k.a. Top Story)

Think Twice with Jonathan Tobin (f.k.a. Top Story)
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Jonathan Tobin: 我对当前政治环境下能否进行建设性对话持怀疑态度。政治光谱两端的人都视对方为民主的威胁，这使得弥合分歧变得非常困难。即使在战时，以色列人也难以团结一致。与那些对恐怖主义漠不关心或支持的人，以及那些主张摧毁以色列的人，如何进行建设性对话？不过，传统的犹太《塔木德》研究提供了一个范例，说明如何进行更诚实的辩论，并将政治讨论视为非零和游戏。 Daniel Taub: 以色列社会在10月7日之前就已高度分裂，这促使我开始思考如何进行建设性对话。年轻人难以在有争议的问题上找到共同点。犹太传统中存在着进行建设性对话和处理分歧的工具，这些工具与当今社会科学和冲突解决的见解不谋而合。塔木德的辩论方法是应对社会危机的生存机制，与当今西方社会面临的危机非常相似。我希望人们能从犹太传统中找到有用的工具，不仅为了历史，也为了未来。

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Jonathan Tobin expresses skepticism about the possibility of constructive political discourse, citing the deep divisions and animosity between opposing political factions. He questions whether genuine dialogue is attainable given the intense polarization and perception of threats to democracy from both sides. The conversation then introduces Daniel Taub and his book on constructive disagreement.
  • Deep political divisions and mutual distrust hinder constructive dialogue.
  • Both sides view opponents as threats to democracy.
  • The possibility of constructive disagreement is questioned in the current political environment.

Shownotes Transcript

In the Internet era and politically bifurcated societies, is constructive disagreement, a concept that is at the heart of traditional Talmud study, even possible anymore? JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin admits that he’s skeptical about whether political discourse can be anything other than a zero-sum game in the current atmosphere.

Tobin is joined on this week’s episode by one person who believes that it doesn’t have to be that way. Daniel Taub, a mediator, writer and former Israeli diplomat is the author of the new book, Beyond Dispute: Rediscovering the Jewish Art of Constructive Disagreement. According to Taub, the tools to bring us closer together can be found in those that are part of the Jewish tradition. What’s more, he points out that the methods that are used in Talmud study arose out of a period of even worse Jewish disunity, during the last years of the Temple era 2,000 years ago and the period that followed its destruction.