Debate Like A Champion | World Champion Debater Bo Seo (Part 1)

Summary

In this How To Academy event, two-time world champion debater and author, Boso Beau, discusses the importance of mastering the skill of disagreeing well. Drawing from his experiences as a non-English speaker and a debate coach, Beau shares insights from his book, 'The Art of Disagreeing Well.' He emphasizes the need to start disagreements with mutual agreements on conversation rules and the core issues at hand. Beau illustrates this with the example of a debate on school choice, highlighting how identifying the underlying disagreements can lead to more productive conversations and potentially resolve surface-level disputes.

Takeaways

• 📚 Beau Beau is a two-time world champion debater, former coach of the Australian national debating team, and a renowned figure in the global debate community.
• 🌟 His new book, 'The Art of Disagreeing Well', aims to provide a toolkit and skills for effective debating and disagreement, emphasizing the importance of arguing as a skill.
• 🗣️ Beau believes that disagreements should start with agreements about the rules and topics of conversation, ensuring equal time and respect for all parties involved.
• 🌐 The book and Beau's talk are designed to be useful, aiming to help people engage in additive disagreements in various settings, from home to the public square.
• 💡 Beau shares his personal journey of learning English and the importance of debate in giving him a voice, especially as a newcomer to a new culture.
• 👨‍🏫 He emphasizes that every disagreement should start with some agreement, such as the rules of conversation and the specific points of disagreement.
• 🤝 Beau invites audience engagement throughout his presentation, encouraging questions and discussions to enrich the learning experience.
• 📈 The talk includes four lessons that give a flavor of Beau's teaching, aiming to be useful takeaways for the audience to apply in their own lives.
• 🤔 Beau poses two questions that he's still exploring, seeking input from the audience, showing that learning and understanding are ongoing processes.
• 🔍 The script illustrates the process of identifying the core of a disagreement by breaking it down into its constituent parts, which can help in resolving the conflict more effectively.

Q & A

What is the main theme of Beau Beau's talk in the How To Academy event?

The main theme of Beau's talk is about the art of disagreeing well, emphasizing that arguing is a skill that can be improved and that disagreements should start with some form of agreement about the rules and subject of the conversation.

Why did Beau decide to write a book on disagreeing well?

Beau decided to write the book because he believes that arguing is a skill that can be learned and improved upon, and that improving our public conversations requires us to step back and understand that disagreeing is also a craft and an art.

What is Beau's background in debating?

Beau is a two-time world champion debater, a former coach of the Australian national debating team and the Harvard College debating union, and is recognized as a prominent figure in the global debate community.

What is the working title Beau originally had for his book?

The working title Beau originally had for his book was 'How to Disagree Well', which reflects his desire to provide useful information and steps for people to engage in constructive disagreements.

How does Beau's experience of moving to Australia at a young age relate to the theme of his talk?

Beau's experience of moving to Australia at a young age and not speaking English initially made him feel like an outsider, which led him to avoid disagreements to fit in. This experience influenced his perspective on the importance of learning how to disagree well.

What is the first lesson Beau shares in his talk about disagreements?

The first lesson Beau shares is that every disagreement should start with some agreement, specifically about the rules of how the conversation will be conducted and what the conversation is about.

Why is it important to name the disagreement according to Beau?

Naming the disagreement is important because it helps avoid misunderstandings, gets to the heart of what the disagreement is really about, and can resolve seemingly surface-level disagreements that stem from more fundamental disputes.

What is an example Beau uses to illustrate the concept of naming the disagreement?

Beau uses the example of a disagreement about whether to send children to a local public school. He suggests that the disagreement may not be about 'sending' but could be about the children's needs, the parents' obligations, or the quality of education provided by the school.

How does Beau engage the audience during his talk?

Beau engages the audience by inviting them to participate through the Q&A box or chat box, asking them to suggest what a particular disagreement might be about, and reading out some of their suggestions during the presentation.

What are the two questions Beau poses to the audience for their input?

The two questions Beau poses to the audience are not explicitly mentioned in the provided transcript, but they are intended to be relevant to the audience and seek their input and thinking on the subject matter of disagreeing well.