Exemplifying Mutual Understanding, Mutual Trust and Mutual Learning

The root problem when public discourse is motivated by fear is that the conversation partners (CPs) never arrive at mutual understanding, mutual trust, and learning from each other, all three of which should characterize conversations about contentious issues regarding which the CPs have strong disagreements.

Since we all believe we have good reasons for the positions we take regarding a contentious issue, the problem with not seeking mutual understanding because of fear is that the CPs never come to an adequate understanding of the reasons the person who disagrees has for holding to their position.

This failure to arrive at mutual understanding then eliminates the possibility of developing the mutual trust that is needed to enable each CP to learn from other CPs with whom they disagree.