This is a backup document for the Upper Valley Vibes discussion with Greg Prince.
It’s also a document that has had a lasting impact on many of those who have come into contact with it. Developed by Greg Prince while at Dartmouth College, they were delivered in a convocation address at Hampshire College when he was president there. The principles carefully lay out values that can help improve the civility in discussions, especially when on challenging topics. You can view them here or below.
The Principles of Discourse at Hampshire College
–from a speech by President Gregory S. Prince, Hampshire College Convocation, 1990.
(1) That we value truth and the process of seeking truth as ends in themselves;
(2) That we accept responsibility to articulate a position as close to the truth as one can make it, using to
the best of one’s ability, available evidence, and the rules of reason, logic and relevance;
(3) That we listen openly, recognizing always that new information may alter one’s position;
(4) That we welcome evaluation and accept and even encourage disagreement and criticism even to the
point of seeking out for ourselves that which will dispower our position;
(5) That we refuse to reduce disagreement to personal attacks or attacks on groups or classes of
individuals;
(6) That we value civility, even in disagreement;
(7) That we reject the premise that the ends, no matter how worthy, can justify means which violate
these principles.
