"Free" began as a word of endearment for family members. It was used to mean things like 'dear' and 'beloved.' It also came to mean something like 'trustworthy.' It was used to refer to friends and clansmen. It referred to those who were at liberty to be around you because they were trustworthy. People and places where one could expect tolerance, liberality, generosity, liberty, honesty, understanding, love, cooperation, were called 'free.' There were free lands, free companions, free countries, free neighbors, free people, free nations.
There was a moment when a free man in a free country among free people freely accepted the responsibility to be cooperative, loving, understanding, honest, fair, and generous.
Showing posts with label common meaning. Show all posts
Showing posts with label common meaning. Show all posts
Monday, October 3, 2011
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Opening Notes on Civil Discourse
My present notions of civil discourse include the following:
Civil discourse is talk for public and individual good. It is a respectful way of talking among equals. It is a way of talking in which the worth and judgment of the participants is a given. It requires personal modesty and an appreciation for the experience of the other participants.
Civil discourse is engagement in conversation intended to enhance understanding, It is a way to enjoy productive talk about facts, evidence, observations, and interpretations in a tolerant and courteous way.
I discussed many techniques and methods of dialogue in my Magic Table blog which are highly useful i civil discourse. A principle purpose of 'dialogue' as described in those Magic Table posts was to bring the individuals in groups of various sizes to share common meanings. That dialogue was meant to bring individuals closer to common understanding. One might consider that dialogue as an important subgroup of civil discourse.
Consider:
Who is interested in learning techniques of dialogue?
What are the more useful techniques of dialogue?
Of what use may knowledge of civil discourse be in these days?
Is there a set of categories which support civil discourse and rational inquiry?
Civil discourse is talk for public and individual good. It is a respectful way of talking among equals. It is a way of talking in which the worth and judgment of the participants is a given. It requires personal modesty and an appreciation for the experience of the other participants.
Civil discourse is engagement in conversation intended to enhance understanding, It is a way to enjoy productive talk about facts, evidence, observations, and interpretations in a tolerant and courteous way.
I discussed many techniques and methods of dialogue in my Magic Table blog which are highly useful i civil discourse. A principle purpose of 'dialogue' as described in those Magic Table posts was to bring the individuals in groups of various sizes to share common meanings. That dialogue was meant to bring individuals closer to common understanding. One might consider that dialogue as an important subgroup of civil discourse.
Consider:
Who is interested in learning techniques of dialogue?
What are the more useful techniques of dialogue?
Of what use may knowledge of civil discourse be in these days?
Is there a set of categories which support civil discourse and rational inquiry?
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