Ort
We are living in a time of historic polarization across the globe. Many people believe today’s divisions are the result of irreconcilable differences in beliefs or values. Tim Shriver disagrees. He argues that the deeper problem is not disagreement itself, but how people treat one another when they disagree.
In this presentation, Shriver introduces The Dignity Index, a tool he co-created through UNITE to help individuals, institutions, and communities better understand the role language plays in both fueling conflict and fostering healing. The Dignity Index offers a clear, practical framework for measuring how people speak to one another — especially in moments of tension — and for choosing dignity over contempt in public and private life.
The Index is built on an eight-point scale that tracks language from dehumanizing contempt to speech that affirms the inherent worth of every person, even when disagreements are sharp and deeply felt. Drawing on real-world examples from politics, education, media, and everyday conversations around the world, Shriver demonstrates how patterns of contempt have become normalized in modern culture — escalating conflict, eroding trust, and making collective problem-solving increasingly difficult. More importantly, he explores how choosing dignity can interrupt these cycles, reduce the risk of violence, and open pathways to collaboration and progress.
Shriver emphasizes that dignity is not about politeness for its own sake, nor does it require avoiding hard conversations or compromising deeply held convictions. Rather, dignity is the decision to recognize the humanity of others — especially when it is most difficult to do so. In this talk, he examines why contempt has become so widespread globally, the costs it imposes on children, schools, communities, and democratic institutions, and what leaders and citizens alike can do to “level up” how they speak and listen.
This conversation is for anyone seeking a more constructive way to engage across difference. Shriver explores how the Dignity Index can be applied in schools, organizations, and communities worldwide to strengthen relationships, foster healthier dialogue, and help ensure that every person is treated as worthy of respect, voice, and belonging.
After the lecture, we invite you to join us for a reception in the Lichthof at the University of Zurich.
Registration required. Limited seating capacity
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Leitung
Rechtsanwalt, LL.M., Direktor, Europa Instituts an der Universität Zürich
Referierende
Chairman of Special Olympics and Chairman of UNITE
Tim Shriver is husband, father, grandfather, educator, best-selling author, Chairman of Special Olympics and Chairman of UNITE. As Chairman of Special Olympics, a global movement to end discrimination against people with intellectual disabilities, Tim has driven the largest expansion of the organization in its history—growing the movement from one million athletes to over six million athletes in more than 170 countries around the world. As he passed the CEO torch in the past few years, he began asking questions like, “How could the example and spirit of the athletes of Special Olympics provide a model for a divided world?” and “How could SEL skills like empathy, self-awareness, and perspective-taking help our whole nation?” Hundreds of young people, faith leaders, educators, philosophers, scientists, activists and political figures have joined the conversation. Together, they concluded that in spite of the divides, the world is hungry to be reminded of its common humanity. As Chairman of UNITE, a non-profit that also emerged from this exploration, he has helped to pioneer the Dignity Index—a new tool to help Americans disagree without demonizing each other—and catalyze dozens of moonshots that unite Americans in common purpose to tackle our country’s most intractable challenges. Shriver earned his undergraduate degree from Yale University, a Master's degree from Catholic University, and a Doctorate in Education from the University of Connecticut. Before joining Special Olympics in 1996, Shriver co-founded and currently chairs the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL), the leading school reform organization in the field of social and emotional learning (SEL). Shriver also has a record of harnessing the power of Hollywood to spread hope and connection across differences as the executive producer of several films — including Amistad, The Loretta Claiborne Story, The Ringer, Front of the Class, As Far as They Can Run and The Peanut Butter Falcon. He is the author of the NYT bestseller Fully Alive – Discovering What Matters Most, and co-editor of The Call to Unite: Voices of Hope and Awakening.
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Podcast
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