While labelling satire seems like a fine idea in theory, in reality it probably wouldn’t work. It also takes away from my right (and yours) to be fooled.
Articles on public debate
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Waleed Aly and Scott Stephens’ claim that contempt is the source of contemporary political problems looks weak and obtuse in the face of what is actually happening in America now
New research examines 25 years of newspaper reporting of teachers and finds consistent evidence of “teacher bashing”.
‘Cancel culture’ didn’t exist at all in the British mainstream media in 2017 – but in 2021 there were an astonishing 3,670 articles that used the term.
We’ve all heard an exasperated “do your research!” from people who want to persuade us to accept their claim or point of view. The problem is it’s not likely to convince anyone.
People who act holier than thou aren’t necessarily better than the rest of us. In fact, their moral grandstanding may be driving society apart.
Debates may help voters identify which candidate shares their views but they do not help them think critically about those views. That’s because presidential debates don’t live up to their name.
We can justify different standards for different Twitter users by turning to the philosophical ideas about public debate.
The findings confirm that debate on issues related to minority groups’ lives and well-being can significantly affect their mental health.
The republic of letters was an intellectual community that took shape in the Enlightenment. And just like writers’ festivals, it had rules about who could speak.
Australians have reason to be apprehensive that some civil voices are not being heard in our liberal democracy.
The assisted dying bill in Victoria – complex and significant – is engendering less heated debate than marriage equality although both tap into some of our most fundamental fears and motivations.
We need to get beyond hyperbole and half-truths from those both for and against marriage equality, and go back to basics.
Tom Nichols’ book The Death of Expertise examines why the relationship between experts and citizens in a democracy is collapsing, and what can be done about it.
Academic analysis is often ignored – and this is an indictment not of readers, but of academics.
Social media is a key platform for public debate. But that doesn’t mean it’s necessarily good.
Top contributors
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Paul James is a Friend of The Conversation.Professor of Globalization and Cultural Diversity, Western Sydney University
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Chen Su Lan Centennial Professor in Medical Ethics, National University of Singapore; Distinguished Visiting Professor in Law, University of Melbourne; Uehiro Chair in Practical Ethics, The University of Melbourne
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Associate Professor (hon) at the Centre for Public Awareness of Science, Australian National University
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Emeritus Professor in Law and Criminal Justice, Adelaide University
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Associate Professor, History, Macquarie University
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Senior Lecturer, UniSA Creative, Adelaide University
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Senior Lecturer and Director of Debate, Vanderbilt University
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Professor, School of Social and Political Sciences, Director, The (so-called) Australian Centre, The University of Melbourne
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Professor of Political Communication; Director CAJ, The University of Melbourne
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Professor of Philosophy, University of Warwick
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Professor of English, Flinders University
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Professor of Social Psychology, University of Sydney
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PhD Scholar, University of Sydney
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University of Sydney