10.04 Why are we fighting?

It is becoming a truism that polarization is on the rise, our societies dividing — often violently — into so many “us” and “them” groupings around moral and political questions and along national, religious, and identity-based lines. This extends even to questions of truth and the trustworthiness of scientifi c institutions and experts.

What is the role of philosophical thinking in such times? Can philosophical arguments actually settle all disagreements, or are there diff erences that run so deep that agreement cannot be reached? Is agreement always to be desired, or is diff erence sometimes valuable? When grave harm has been done, are reconciliation and forgiveness always possible (or good)? How should we engage with the world? Or are we sometimes justifi ed in becoming cynical, disengaged, or “minding our own business” amidst the fi ghting?