How to change minds: A little respect

+ Shakespeare, race and whiteness US Edition - Today's top story: As humans, we all want self-respect – and keeping that in mind might be the missing ingredient when you try to change someone's mind [View in browser]( US Edition | 3 May 2024 [The Conversation] [The Conversation]( Top headlines - [Are Americans losing faith in democracy?]( - [What pro-Palestinian protesters want]( - [Feeling quizzy? May the 4th be with you]( Lead story The past few days have felt like a blur of headlines about protests, counterprotests and police. Clearly, Americans from a wide variety of perspectives have passionate views about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. But too often, that turns into people yelling slogans past each other – or worse – rather than engaging in a meaningful dialogue on a complex topic. Really listening to someone you disagree with is hard in the best of times. Actually changing their mind? Much harder. [It begins with respect](, writes University of Washington philosopher Colin Marshall. Each of us deeply wants to believe that we are a decent, reasonable human being, he explains. It makes us much more receptive to others’ ideas when that core belief doesn’t feel under attack. It’s an idea backed up by modern psychology research – but also one that German philosopher Immanuel Kant was writing about nearly 300 years ago. We have a moral duty to help “the other person ‘preserve his respect for his own understanding,’” Marshall writes, quoting Kant. “In other words, even when we encounter obviously false points of view, morality calls on us to help the person we’re talking to maintain their self-respect – to find something reasonable in their views.” [[How faith and religion drive the world. Sign up for our weekly newsletter, This Week in Religion.](] Molly Jackson Religion and Ethics Editor Looking to persuade someone? Start with respect. dusanpetkovic/iStock via Getty Images Plus [As humans, we all want self-respect – and keeping that in mind might be the missing ingredient when you try to change someone’s mind]( Colin Marshall, University of Washington People deeply want to believe they are good, reasonable and worthy. A little humility and curiosity can go a long way toward helping someone feel respected during an argument. Arts + Culture - [What Shakespeare can teach us about racism]( David Sterling Brown, Trinity College Considered the greatest writer in English literature, William Shakespeare illustrates views on race and whiteness throughout all of his dramatic works. Politics + Society - [What students protesting Israel’s Gaza siege want — and how their demands on divestment fit into the BDS movement]( Mira Sucharov, Carleton University There’s been a concerted effort in Israel and the US to block this movement’s tactics and goals. - [Many immigrants to the US are fleeing violence and persecution − here’s how the federal government can help cities absorb them]( Karen Jacobsen, Tufts University People who enter the US as refugees or with asylum generally adapt quickly and become productive members of society. But cities need help getting them settled and employed. - [Supporting ‘democracy’ is hard for many who feel government and the economy are failing them]( Matthew Wilson, University of South Carolina One-third of Americans think that “rule by a strong leader or the military would be a good way of governing their country.” Are they losing faith in democracy? - [On its 125th anniversary, W.E.B. Du Bois’ ‘The Philadelphia Negro’ offers lasting lessons on gentrification in Philly’s historically Black neighborhoods]( Zawadi Rucks-Ahidiana, University at Albany, State University of New York; Freeden Blume Oeur, Tufts University Du Bois’ study, published in 1899, detailed the social conditions of poor Black residents of the Seventh Ward. The area is now home to some of Philadelphia’s ritziest neighborhoods. Science + Technology - [A look inside the cyberwar between Israel and Hamas reveals the civilian toll]( Ryan Shandler, Georgia Institute of Technology; Daphna Canetti, University of Haifa; Tal Mimran, Zefat Academic College The consequences of cyber conflict are primarily felt by civilians, who call for retaliation, fueling cycles of violence. - [Animal behavior research is getting better at keeping observer bias from sneaking in – but there’s still room to improve]( Todd M. Freeberg, University of Tennessee Like all people, the way scientists see the world is shaped by biases and expectations, which can affect how they record and report. Rigorous research methods can minimize this effect. Economy + Business - [What’s in a VIN? How to decode the vehicle identification number, your car’s unique fingerprint]( Jordan Frith, Clemson University VINs can tell a story if you know what to look for. Trending on site - [What the Supreme Court is doing right in considering Trump’s immunity case]( - [The biblical character who goes ‘down the rabbit hole’ into an alternate reality − just like Alice in Wonderland]( - [Sourdough under the microscope reveals microbes cultivated over generations]( The Conversation News Quiz 🧠- Here's the first question of [this week's edition:]( University president Minouche Shafik called in the police on April 30 to quell student protests at what New York City school? - A. NYU - B. Columbia - C. Yeshiva - D. 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