Discussion»Questions»Communication» Generally speaking, does a person have to agree with your perspectives in order for you to consider them worthy of your respect?
No, I don't require that people agree with me in order for me to respect them, but there are certain areas of disagreement that would not allow me to respect a person (e.g. I can't respect someone who believes in white supremacy). Aside from such extreme examples, generally speaking, I can respect people who do not agree with my perspectives.
This post was edited by Benedict Arnold at November 24, 2016 4:47 PM MST
I think all people, regardless of their views, are deserving of basic human decency. Yes, that even includes ISIS terrorists who burn people alive in cages (an action I find utterly repugnant and evil).
Now, I think such people should be arrested, tried for their crimes, and separated from civil society for the rest of their lives, but they are still deserving of human "respect" in the sense we should not torture them, or bomb their families, or steal their natural resources.
In the narrower context that you probably meant the question, the answer is similar. I can respect people who have differing views than I do...PROVIDED those views are grounded in reality and not ultimately about prejudice/kin selection. I encounter this frequently with my brother. We look at a political/geopolitical reality. We largely agree on the empirical facts. But we have different views about what policies should be implemented or how we should judge actions that have been taken because I am more idealistic than my brother, while he is more accepting of the realpolitik nature of the world.
I wouldn't have a problem befriending or talking to someone i dont agree with .. and actually I love a debate...but, but, but if they cannot debate or discuss in a reasonable way and start insulting and engaging in personal attacks then sorry but I will wipe the floor wth them :P
