| Dialogue |
Debate |
| 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 |
