[lit-ideas] The end of civility?

  • From: Torgeir Fjeld <t.fjeld1@xxxxxxxxx>
  • To: lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
  • Date: Tue, 17 Nov 2020 11:10:19 +0100

Dear all:

Edward, Chris and others mentioned the fate of civility as contingent on
current political processes. In this brief essay, hyperlinked below,
philosopher John Corvino (Wayne State University) muses on some reasons to
carry on being civil:

"One might also object [to keeping on being civil] that some ideas and
practices—-and by extension, some people—really are beyond the pale: one
does not civil polite discourse with Nazis, for example. I agree. Even
Jesus overturned the tables of the money-changers.

But this approach ought to be used sparingly, for both principled and
pragmatic reasons. When outrage becomes our go-to stance, we often lose
opportunities for working together to effect needed social change."
His comment in full:

http://dailynous.com/2020/11/10/philosophers-2020-u-s-presidential-election/#Corvino

Is Corvino's views relevant to our discussion?

Take care.

Torgeir Fjeld
Poland

https://www.torgeirfjeld.com

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