The Civil Discourse initiative, launched in December 2023 by Dean Hopi Hoekstra, represents a long-term commitment to continue to foster an environment of curiosity, ambition, mutual understanding and achievement for the entire FAS community, including students, faculty and staff.
Our aim is to strengthen the FAS community’s capacity to pursue excellence on a foundation of open inquiry and civility. We are doing this through efforts that span the educational lifecycle from trainings during orientation to embedding the principles of civil discourse and dialogue into our classrooms to offering programs and events modeling these principles at work. We are also engaging in scholarly research to inform how to design, implement, and assess our civil discourse programming.
Meet Professor Eric Beerbohm
Eric Beerbohm, Professor of Government, Director of the Edmond & Lily Safra Center for Ethics, and Faculty Dean of Quincy House, is Dean Hoekstra’s senior advisor on civil discourse. He will lead the effort to empower FAS students, faculty, and staff to share their diverse perspectives without fear of ridicule or hostility, leading to richer discussions.
Featured Events
Past Events
News
- Keeping cool when debate turns hot
- Spreading gospel — and strategies — of productive disagreement
- Why I changed my mind
Resources
Intellectual Vitality at Harvard College
Through intellectual vitality, the Harvard College community seeks to establish a culture in which all members speak, listen, and ask questions of each other – and ourselves – with curiosity and respect. This is critical to achieve the mission of Harvard College and what we as a community believe in.
Edmond & Lily Safra Center for Ethics
The Edmond & Lily Safra Center for Ethics seeks to strengthen teaching and research about pressing ethical issues; to foster sound norms of ethical reasoning and civic discussion; and to share the work of our community in the public interest.
Candid & Constructive Conversations at the Harvard Kennedy School
Harvard Kennedy School (HKS) is committed to strengthening the ability of our students, staff, and faculty to have candid and constructive conversations across difference.