Exploring disagreements can provide an intellectually enriching and entertaining experience.
In a Bachelor of Science fight club
The slamming on the desks starts without delay.
It's fall, and MIT's Concourse program's freshmen are clashing thoughts in their Friday lunchtime seminars set in Building 16. Sasha Rickard '19 - the assistant director of Concourse and the keeper of the peace, or moderator, in the debates - sets strict guidelines: "Stand when you speak, direct your questions and opinions to the keeper, and thump the desk when you hear something you agree with." The first speaker launches forth with her views on capitalism, and the resounding thuds prove she's got backers.
More students jump up to question her, and the next speaker bats for an entirely opposite view. This intellectual ping pong match perpetuates for nearly two hours, with arguments for and against capitalism parading back and forth. Some participants label it a "serious mental workout," an "honest showdown," and an "exciting time."
This fight club is one of the pillars of MIT's Civil Discourse Project, a coalition between the Concourse program and philosophy gurus Brad Skow and Alex Byrne. The underlying theory driving the Civil Discourse Project is that first-year students who practice discussing and listening to one another, even when they disagree, will evolve into more considerate and open-minded citizens.
"It's like push comes to shove when it comes to free speech and free expression, but it's also consistent with the spirit of the university, which is about learning and advancement," says Professor of Senior Lectureship Linda Rabieh, a veteran of the Civil Discourse Project alongside Skow, Byrne, and Concourse Director Anne McCants.
The project appears to be bearing fruit. First-year student Ace Chun, a participant in the spirited debates, shares his insights: "It's easy to just shrug and say, 'Well, you think one way, and I think another,' or 'You're wrong, and I'm right.' But going round after round and ending up with a more informed stance feels crucial."
Lock and Load
Funded by the Arthur Vining Davis Foundations, the project kicked off in fall 2023 as a series of face-offs between scholars with contrasting beliefs on a specific topic, often one from MIT and another from a rival institution. A week or so later, the Concourse freshmen, who watched the battles royale, wage their own debates on the same topic. Topics tackled over the years have ranged from feminism, climate change, pandemic-era public policy, and the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza.
The first scholarly duel of the year explored the question "Is capitalism salvageable?" and starred economist Tyler Cowen of George Mason University, who argued for, and political scientist Alex Gourevitch of Brown University, who fiercely disagreed. Approximately 350 spectators registered to watch the pair trade barbs in a massive auditorium in the Stata Center.
These encounters are open to the masses in MIT. However, they are not recorded or streamed online, because Skow believes, "We aim to create an environment where students feel at ease to express whatever's on their mind without fear that their words might become internet history." Concourse students attending these showdowns get inspiration for their own appearances while learning proper debate techniques and the art of diplomacy. Cowen and Gourevitch managed to stay cordial despite their fierce exchange, leaving spectators feeling like they saw opposing forces coexist.
In the early 2000s, Rabieh started to pick up on a reluctance among students to discuss controversial ideas - they didn't want to alienate others. "Most MIT students are knee-deep in quantitative reasoning, and it's tempting to embrace the safety of numbers over grappling with controversial ideas," she explains.
Modern political and cultural turmoil make it even more challenging for students to engage in hot-button discussions. Encouraging civil discourse has become a sort of holy grail in higher education, and some universities incorporate free speech exercises into orientation, host "conversational" events, or provide specialized training. Byrne sees MIT's Civil Discourse Project as practical, hands-on learning. "We're not simply talking, but engaging in the action. It's like learning to swim without getting wet," he says.
Mastering the art of verbal sparring
The Concourse's "battleground" is found in a student lounge in Building 16. That's where the "debate coaches," older students who have completed the Concourse program, mentor the freshmen in crafting arguments and statements suitable for a debate. They also help Rickard and Rabieh transform the original debate question into a proposition the younger students can reasonably argue about. "Our students are finding their voices when it comes to what they believe," Rickard notes. So, the question debated by Cowen and Gourevitch - Is capitalism salvageable? - becomes: "Capitalism is the best economic system because it prioritizes freedom and prosperity."
The freshmen immediately exchange blows. During their lunchtime debates, they crowded around desks, ate pizza and salad, and awaited their turn at the podium. They shared personal anecdotes to bolster their claims. They argued the majority’s side, even though they actually disagreed. They admitted defeat when they were stumped. "That's a complicated proposition," one of the speakers owned up.
Debate coach and senior Isaac Lock explains what the experience entails for the students: "It's enticing to immerse oneself in the bubble of textbooks, statistical models, and numerical problems. Yet, the Civil Discourse Project urges students to talk about life's big questions, even if they're still marinating in abstract ideas while brushing elbows with opposing perspectives."
They're also honing their skills at striking a balance in discussions. The student debates employ a format created by Braver Angels, a nationwide organization focusing on bridging the partisan divide in the United States. Timing, prepared speeches, and spontaneous remarks help cater to various speakers. Arianna Doss, a sophomore debate coach, describes the benefits: "Thanks to the debates, students learn to speak for themselves, considering their viewpoints, and providing nuance to their arguments. All while remaining mindful of opposing viewpoints and acknowledging the limitations of their own standpoints."
The Civil Discourse Project will release updates on its website about their spring events. Coleman Hughes, author of "The End of Race Politics: Arguments for a Colorblind America," will grace MIT's campus on March 3, and preparations for a debate on legacy media's relevance are underway for later in the semester.
- The students in the MIT's Concourse program engage in fierce debates, such as the one on capitalism, as part of the Civil Discourse Project.
- The Civil Discourse Project, a collaboration between the Concourse program and philosophy gurus Brad Skow and Alex Byrne, aims to develop more considerate and open-minded citizens through debates and discussions.
- In these debates, students learn proper debate techniques, the art of diplomacy, and the importance of engaging with opposing viewpoints.
- The project offers a platform for students to express their opinions, even if controversial, without fear of their words becoming internet history.
- In the early 2000s, Professor Linda Rabieh noticed a reluctance among students to discuss controversial ideas, as they didn't want to alienate others.
- Encouraging civil discourse has become a priority in higher education, with some universities incorporating free speech exercises into orientation or providing specialized training.
- The Concourse's "battleground" is a student lounge in Building 16, where debate coaches mentor freshmen in crafting arguments and providing nuance to their arguments.
- The Civil Discourse Project focuses on life's big questions, pushing students to consider and articulate their viewpoints while engaging with opposing perspectives.
- Updates about the Civil Discourse Project's spring events, including a visit from author Coleman Hughes and a debate on legacy media's relevance, can be found on the project's website.
