Rhetoric, ethics, and the principle of charity
Pragmatist clues to the democratic riddle
This article examines the challenge of partisanship to the free and open communication entailed by rich notions of democracy. Exploring the vexing riddle of how democratic citizens can balance openness and assertiveness in their dialogic interactions, I turn to the American pragmatist tradition for two important starting points. Drawing from William James and John Dewey, I highlight how the pragmatist tradition provides a nuanced reading of charity, both towards individuals and to situations. Charity is a choice of disposition, and it has vital implications for pragmatist rhetoric’s drive to instantiate a deep sense of democratic communication.
Article outline
- 1.Introduction
- 2.The democratic riddle
- 3.The Jamesian clue to individual charity
- 4.The Deweyan clue to situation charity
- 5.Toward a democratic future
-
References
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