3 ms·
I think the article is operating under the false assumption that most political discourse is meant to be a Socratic conversation. It's really not. Look at a pol
by dfxm12 5y ago
I think the article is operating under the false assumption that most political discourse is meant to be a Socratic conversation. It's really not. Look at a political debate, or a talking heads show on cable news. There is no truth that is sought out, no hypotheses to accept, no exploration of if a conclusion follows the premises logically. All there is, is persuasive sound bytes, with no deference paid to the truth and no refraining from the "false opinion concerning the subjects of the present conversation".
The media drives a lot of this with the format of their shows/political debates. I'm sure these sound bytes are better for ratings, but they are poor for getting to the bottom of a political platform and how that's really best for the general population.
- beebmam 5y agoPublic debate is performance for the audiences. Private debate can absolutely be like Socratic dialogue
- pasabagi 5y agoI don't know what Socratic dialogues you've been reading, but if somebody started speaking like they were out of one near me, I'd probably report them for being a replicant.
- jhoechtl 5y ago> The media drives a lot of this with the format of their shows/political debates. I'm sure these sound bytes are better for ratings, but they are poor for getting to the bottom of a political platform and how that's really best for the general population. I only developed a more informed sense to follow the political sphere like five years ago or so. This is so true, the media and their need for quotes makes so many debates into a farce. Politicians seem like being in front of a judge instead of a truth-seeking interviewer. Not that politicians are overly known for truth-seeking but there is a certain line between for a reporter being investigative and sensational.
- marginalia_nu 5y agoThis is not all that different from the Athens Socrates operated in. A significant portion of Plato's work portrays Socrates interrogating various forms of sophists, politicians, generals; the "talking heads" of his time. Socrates was a notorious weirdo, a bit like the Richard Stallman of Athens.
- more_corn 5y agoIt is still possible to seek truth even if those arguing against you are seeking only political power. Some of my most satisfying conversations have been with Machiavellian powermongers. They have compelling arguments and finely honed tactics of persuasion. Our arguments come away in pieces and new ideas are constructed out of the wreckage. It is by disagreeing with someone that we get to explore the ideas we would never consider on our own. Some of my most novel ideas have come about by being refuted by others.