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Freedom Speaks
with
Michael Raal Podcast
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Speech and Reason - in the pursuit of truth.
The centerpiece of life in Ancient Greece was political participation
in an assembly in which the use of reason and speech was
paramount to deliberate about a course of action.
The principle of Logos - Rational Speech was essential to their Society.
They reframed freedom as the ability to participate in philosophical
debate and deliberation. This was the path to elevate and transform oneself and society.
Theology gives as a deeper meaning for Logos - Divine Reason and Creative Order. Creation comes about through the spoken word.
Both meanings point to the importance of the right use of Speech in a society or civilization.
Shifting the Conversation
The current conversations in American society are characterized by attack and defense of ideological positions with the greatest emotional content carrying the day. These conversations do not contribute to democracy, they foster mistrust and division.
What is required is a shift in the current conversation that allows us to re-open vigorous dialogue (not win at all cost debate) that fosters wisdom and cooperation.
It is also requires us to focus more on possibility than on problems. Possibility is the realm of creation and shifting potential into reality through the use of the spoken word.
Transformation is about a shift in language and conversation
Peter Block
Dialogue vs Debate
A dialogue differs from a debate in that it allows us to speak without fear and listen without resistance.
During a dialogue we are open and neutral to what is being said and we can listen and express ourselves without fear.
These conversations build trust and in doing so rebuild our social fabric and associational life.
The Socratic method or Socratic debate is a form of cooperative argumentative dialogue between individuals, based on asking and answering questions to stimulate critical thinking and to draw out ideas and underlying presuppositions.
Restoring Social fabric through conversation
"Social fabric is created one room at a time. It is formed from small steps that ask “Who do we want in the room?” and “What is the new conversation that we want to occur? In community building, we choose the people and the conversation that will produce the accountability to build relatedness, structure belonging, and move the action forward." -Block, Peter. Community
It is better to change an opinion,
than persist with a wrong one.
-Socrates