Civil discourse

I rarely comment on our fellow bloggers, but the recent "exchange" between deLong and Russ Roberts exemplifies a concern often expressed on this blog - the vanishing commitment to civil discourse.

I follow both the deLong and Cafe Hayek blogs and have followed this "exchange" with mixed emotions. I see one of the challenges in spirited discussion and debate exemplified here - one that Samuel Gregg outlined in his book The Commercial Society.

Civil discourse is, clearly, a vanishing form of public discourse. All deLong readers know what they get when they come to the blog - spirited discussion that is rarely delivered in a civil manner. Those of us who read and follow Russ Roberts are accustomed to a spirited discussion that is consistently delivered in a civil manner.

As I listened to the silver and gold medalists in the men's figure skating I could not help but think of deLong's rhetorical approach (the Russian) v Robert's civil and thoughtful response (the gold metal).

If one considers the end of rhetoric it is clear which approach will successful engage and stimulate.