ABSTRACT
This chapter investigates the value of being able to compromise, i.e., reconcile different perspectives and come to shared conclusions. Given the plural nature of modern society and the differences between people, both in terms of their interests and their conceptions of the common good, there is unlikely to be spontaneous agreement. Citizens must come to decisions about what is to be done, and they must regard them as, in some sense, legitimate, so that they feel committed to them. This chapter explores the role of group work in developing this ability. Many liberal arts and sciences programmes require students to work together on scholarly projects, including research, papers, and presentations. While students sometimes find group work frustrating, they recognise that not only discussing matters with others but actually working together over a sustained period of time helps them overcome their differences and find a genuine synthesis of their initial views.
