The Soulcraft of Political Depolarization: Learning from the greats of philosophy and literature

NEW: The Philosophy of Depolarization series! Join Braver Angels’ Director of Debates Jessie Mannisto, BA’s Publius Fellow for Public Discourse Luke Nathan Phillips, and Interintellect founder Anna Gát in this inaugural event in the partnership between Interintellect and Braver Angels to explore how political depolarization could succeed and what we can learn from philosophy, literature, and the arts when working toward it.

Is it all just about being civil to one another? About being a centrist? Or is there more to it than that? What actually happens deep inside a person when he or she commits to a project of “depolarization?” And does it have anything to do with the sort of seeking that brings people to Interintellect? Some guiding questions for the conversation might include:

• What does “depolarization” mean? What is the goal?
• Why do people come to Interintellect and Braver Angels, and what do they find when they arrive?
• How can we approach politically polarizing topics?
• How can we take ancient and modern wisdom in the form of literature, philosophy, religious studies, and so on to support a culture of depolarization?
• What is the difference between the broader idea of civility and what Jessie Mannisto and Luke Nathan Phillips refer to as “soulcraft” as the key to depolarization?

Please RSVP. This event will take place in-person in Washington D.C. A precise location will be shared with attendees via email. Please watch the Washington D.C. channel in the Interintellect Discord community forum for last minute updates.