How does a group find common ground?
First, everyone must accept freedom of thought for all. This is key-key-key. This is hard. I understand that the ego want’s to know that what-it-knows is right. The ego (or some such thing) needs to know that “the self” is safe. That’s it job.
Here’s how one goes about being reasonable (2 ideas only):
(1) Accept individually held truths as subjectively true. All of them. Always. Also, each subjective held truth is equally true until it is proven untrue. There is no truth more truthful than another. There are likewise no conspiracy theories (disfavored truths). If all concerned parties do this, individuals will not be forced to take an emotionally defensive posture regarding their personal subjective truths. Disparaging remarks and other unhelpful reactions will be thus avoided.
(2) Begin systematically disproving hypotheses. Beliefs can’t be proved true, they can only be disproved. Irrational people have unfortunately accepted a specific belief (hypothesis) as true. Thus, they will habitually argue the TRUTH of their position. This is poison. Convergence to a shared truth is impossible.
In short –
- Everyone is entitled to their truth, and all subjective truths are equally true;
- Truths can only be disproved (i.e., not proved with more data).
If this discussion foundation is rejected by a party, you are endeavoring to be reasonable with unreasonable people. As a result, emotional defenses will be the experience. Objective truth will e out of reach.
