Despite being a card-carrying member of the if-it-ain’t-broke-don’t-fix-it school of innovation, I dove headfirst into the world of AI. Why? Because it turns out to be amazingly useful. In a short piece, Technology and Me and You: Getting Comfortable with AI, I reflect on how I came to develop the RPS Coach AI tool. I … Continue reading Why This Tech-Wary Curmudgeon Went All-In on AI – And You Might Too
We all know that it’s bad to be biased, right? Wrong. That assumption is its own bad bias. Biases are inevitable – in humans and bots alike. Some biases are harmful. Others are helpful. Many are neutral. But bias itself is unavoidable. So bias isn’t a problem in itself. Pretending otherwise is. This post describes … Continue reading RPS Coach is Biased – And Proud of It
The University of Missouri’s Center for the Study of Dispute Resolution will hold its 40th anniversary symposium on Friday, October 25. It’s entitled, “Dispute Resolution at Forty: Looking Back, Looking Forward,” and features an indisputably all-star cast. Here’s the lineup. The starred characters are Mizzou student and/or faculty alumni. Welcome: Paul J. Litton Remarks: Ilhyung … Continue reading Come to Missouri’s 40th Anniversary Symposium on October 25
This 4-page article riffs on comments at a program at the recent ABA Section of Dispute Resolution conference to illustrate how oxymoronic the terms “facilitative,” “evaluative,” and “empowerment” have become. When people use these terms, we kinda, sorta, probably think we know what they mean. But we don’t really know. The article suggests ways that … Continue reading Oxymorons R Us
I was very touched by all the congratulations and the ceremony at the ABA Section of Dispute Resolution conference where I received the award for outstanding scholarly work. My good friend, Susan Yates, received the D’Alemberte Raven Award at the conference, and she gave these very thoughtful remarks. She described a series of “small” acts … Continue reading My Appreciation – Part 2
Because scholars have academic freedom, we can write about anything we want, without direction by deans or clients. So our choice of topics and perspectives is a good indicator of what we really care about. Over the years, I was struck by the eclectic mix of subjects that Elayne Greenberg wrote about. A common thread … Continue reading Appreciating Elayne Greenberg’s Scholarship
I share the feelings of sadness and loss because of Elayne Greenberg’s death that people described on the DRLE and NYC-DR listservs. I don’t have a lot of words to add to the eloquent things that others have said. She was a truly decent person who cared about others and worked hard to make the … Continue reading Remembering Elayne
Who knew that humor theory was a thing? Philosophical theory, no less. I sure didn’t. Not until I took Audible’s “Great Course,” Take My Course, Please! The Philosophy of Humor, taught by Gettysburg College Philosophy Professor Steven Gimbel. When I stopped teaching courses, it left a lotta empty time on my hands. So I decided … Continue reading Humor Theory and Dispute Resolution
Nobel Laureate Daniel Kahneman died on March 27. He and his colleague, Amos Tversky, published foundational studies in behavioral economics demonstrating that people inevitably have numerous cognitive biases. They upended dominant theories that people simply act rationally to carefully maximize their self-interest. In our dispute resolution field, we rely on their insights to help people … Continue reading Daniel Kahneman
I am very honored to receive the ABA Dispute Resolution Section’s award for outstanding scholarly work this year – and all the congratulations from friends and colleagues in our field. It is particularly flattering considering the great number of folks in our community who deserve recognition for their valuable scholarship and other important work. This … Continue reading My Appreciation – Part 1
