Democracy and Disagreement

Stanford's Democracy and Disagreement course explores and models respectful civil discourse, an essential feature of a democratic society. Each week features scholars who disagree—sometimes quite strongly—about major policy issues. Students will have the opportunity to probe those disagreements, to understand why they persist even in the light of shared evidence, and to improve their own understanding of the facts and values that underlie them.

The course has been offered annually since 2024 by Debra Satz, the Vernon R. and Lysbeth Warren Anderson Dean of the School of Humanities and Sciences, and Paul Brest, former dean and professor emeritus at Stanford Law School. Undergraduates may enroll for 1 or 2 units, but anyone in the Stanford community is welcome to attend. All sessions are recorded and posted online.