Sometimes something just strikes you with truth. I had that experience today.
Time Magazine recently published the Time 100: The People Who Shape our World. The profile of Steven Levitt, of Freakonomics fame was written by Malcolm Gladwell, author of The Tipping Point and Blink. I was struck by a simple but profound comment in this profile:
"This is not a great moment for listeners in American society. The public conversation is dominated by those whose minds are unalterably made up, and we have come to view the man or woman whose views remain steadfast, even in the face of overwhelmingly evidentiary assault, as a kind of moral hero."
If one is looking to pursuade, is it most effective to strongly present and defend a viewpoint or engage in an two-way, open minded conversation?
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