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DIALOGUE
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DEBATE
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| Dialogue is collaborative: two
or more sides work together toward common understanding. |
Vs |
Debate is oppositional: two sides
oppose each other and attempt to prove each other wrong. |
| In dialogue, finding common
ground is the goal. |
Vs |
In debate, winning is the goal.
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| In dialogue, one listens to
the other side(s) in order to understand, find meaning, and
find agreement. |
Vs |
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. |
Vs |
Debate affirms a participant's
own point of view. |
| Dialogue reveals assumptions
for re-evaluation. |
Vs |
Debate defends assumptions as
truth. |
| Dialogue causes introspection
on one's own position. |
Vs |
Debate causes critique of the
other position. |
| Dialogue opens the possibility
of reaching a better solution than any of the original solutions.
|
Vs |
Debate defends one's own positions
as the best solution and excludes other solutions. |
| Dialogue creates an open-minded
attitude: an openness to being wrong and an openness to change.
|
Vs |
Debate creates a closed-minded
attitude, a determination to be right. |
| In dialogue, one submits one's
best thinking, knowing that other people's reflections will
help improve it rather than destroy it. |
Vs |
In debate, one submits one's
best thinking and defends it against challenge to show that
it is right. |
| Dialogue calls for temporarily
suspending one's beliefs. |
Vs |
Debate calls for investing wholeheartedly
in one's beliefs. |
| In dialogue, one searches for
basic agreements. |
Vs |
In debate, one searches for glaring
differences. |
| In dialogue, one searches for
strengths in the other positions. |
Vs |
In debate, one searches for flaws
and weaknesses in the other positions. |
| Dialogue involves a real concern
for the other person and seeks to not alienate or offend. |
Vs |
Debate involves a countering
of the other position without focusing on feelings or relationship
and often belittles or deprecates the other person. |
| Dialogue assumes that many people
have pieces of the answer and that together they can put them
into a workable solution. |
Vs |
Debate assumes that there is
a right answer and that someone has it. |
| Dialogue remains open-ended.
|
Vs |
Debate implies a conclusion.
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