Randy Boyagoda: Why Civil Discourse Matters

Description

Learn more about having respectful, engaging conversations about touchy subjects with Randy Boyagoda in his talk Thinking Out Loud Together, Both In Books and Life: Why Civil Discourse Matters.

Additional Information

Randy will share advice and information from his work as the first Civil Discourse Advisor at the University of Toronto, highlighting the importance of finding common ground in conversations about potentially divisive topics. He will explore how the willingness to engage in civil discourse, especially in libraries, can bridge divides and foster understanding in extreme positions between members of the same community.

“Civil discourse is a commitment to thinking out loud with others, both in books and in life,” said Boyagoda. “It matters because it provides a way for people to recognize and reckon with disagreement, to look for shared understanding.”

Randy Boyagoda is the University of Toronto’s advisor on Civil Discourse. The author of seven books, including four novels, a novella, a critical biography, and a scholarly monograph, he is Professor of English at the University of Toronto, where he serves as Vice-Dean, Undergraduate in the Faculty of Arts and Science. He contributes essays, reviews, and opinions to a variety of publications including The Atlantic, New York Times, the Times Literary Supplement, and the Globe and Mail, and appears frequently on CBC Radio. He served as President of PEN Canada from 2015-2017. He lives in Toronto with his wife and four daughters. 

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