I am intrigued still by Socrates' practice of moving conversations from the specifics of peoples' lives to more abstract concepts in order to defuse emotional tension in dialogue. This strategy seems to be quite effective in facilitating arguments, as opposed to disagreements based on subjective experience to which solutions can rarely be found.
I wonder how this way of framing dialogues works in our modern context, understanding that it seldom occurs. There seems to be an emphasis placed on individual experience and identity in our culture now, and while this kind of thinking about the external world and our relation to it may have its place, it may also jeopardize our ability to find common ground or transcend ourselves. Moreover, I find that this way of thinking often presupposes that direct experience with something is the only (or best) way to acquire knowledge about it, a notion with which I'm sure we could find fault.
Your point about direct experience is important; too often we fail to make the distinction between understanding and experience. Though there are many things in this life that each of us will be unable to experience, our commitment to reason and critical thinking binds us to the belief that it is at theoretically possible to arrive at an understanding of another's experience.
ReplyDeleteI like the confection of an argument not always being a dispute. I've found, in general, there is a type of 'callout culture' on the internet these days. Everyone is very quick to judge and are willing to hold arguments against a person for years.
ReplyDeleteUseful thoughts, all. Socrates' procedure, as Katherine describes it, is less a conventional "search for common ground" than an elevation of the subject to where we can dispute more usefully, and with less personal investment (in the negative sense of getting defensive). Also well taken is the point about personalizing what we think we know due to our personal experience, whereas with empathy and effort we can of course understand many things very well without having to live through them...
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