authorityresearch.com

DISCOURSE
Discussion vs. Dialogue.

by

Dean Gotcher

discussion:  "a formal treatment of a topic in speech or writing."  Merriam-Webster Dictionary
    Presenting one's position, trying to bring others over to it.

dialogue:  "an informal exchange of ideas and opinions ...  aimed at resolution" ibid.
    sharing your opinion, i.e. your feelings and thoughts of the 'moment,' i.e. what you have been talking to your "self" about (reflecting upon, i.e. mulling over).  There is not father's authority in dialogue, only "equality" of opinions.

"In the dialogic relation of recognizing oneself in the other, they experience the common ground of their existence."   Jürgen Habermas Knowledge & Human Interest

"Only by bringing out the child's own ideas in dialogical and dialectical settings can the child begin to reconstruct and progressively transcend concepts [overcome the father's authority in his feelings, thoughts, and actions and in relationship with others]." Richard Paul Critical Thinking Handbook

"In fact, a large part of what we call 'good teaching' is the teacher's ability to attain affective objectives through challenging the student's fixed beliefs and getting them to discuss issues." David Krathwohl, Benjamin Bloom et al. Taxonomy of Educational Objectives Book 2: Affective Domain, p. 54 Children "discussing" issues amongst themselves is a dialogue.

"dialogical consciousness."  Kenneth Benne  Human Relations in Curriculum Change

You can always tell when your talking to a liberal.  When you (through discussion) bring them to the truth, they always accuse you of being argumentative. Because you refuse to go into dialogue with them, i.e., because you refuse to "set aside" or 'compromise' the truth for the sake of their "feelings," you are the one who is unreasonable, i.e., irrational.

According to David Bohm (known for his work regarding quantum physics) "A key difference between a dialogue [sharing opinions] and an ordinary discussion [presenting and defending positions] is that, within the latter [in a discussion] people usually hold relatively fixed positions and argue in favour of their views as they try to convince others to change [to come to their position]." "A dialogue is essentially a conversation between equals [there is no father's/Father's authority in dialogue]."   (Bohm and Peat, Science, Order, and Creativity)  The 'shift' in procedure, from the father/the teacher/God discussing with his son/his students/man, the son's/the student's/man's behavior, in the light of the father's/teacher's/God's position—the father/teacher/God retaining his "above-below" position of authority over the son/the student's/man, to the father and his son/the teacher and his students/God and man dialoguing their opinions with one another—making them "equals" in the 'moment,' 'changes' the way (how) the son/the students/man will feel, think, and act, and relate with one another regarding the father's/teacher's/God's authority in the present and the future.  Changing the learning environment from discussion to dialogue 'changes' how the child/the student/man perceives himself, others, the world, and God.  Discussion maintains a top-down (right-wrong) authority structure in the child's/the student's/man's feelings, thoughts, and actions and relationship with others, dialogue negates it.

‘A key difference between a dialogue and an ordinary discussion is that, within the latter people usually hold relatively fixed positions and argue in favour of their views as they try to convince others to change. At best this may produce agreement or compromise, but it does not give rise to anything creative'  ‘The purpose of dialogue is to reveal the incoherence in our thought ... genuine and creative collective consciousness'. (Bohm and Peat 1987: 241)

‘What is essential here is the presence of the spirit of dialogue, which is in short, the ability to hold many points of view in suspension, along with a primary interest in the creation of common meaning' ibid

‘A Dialogue is essentially a conversation between equals' ibid

The woman dialogued with Satan, with Adam abdicating his office of authority, following after her—all becoming equal in their quest to be equal with God, i.e. to become as gods.  Jesus instructed Satan on righteousness (preaching and teaching) from the word of God, not dialoguing with him, i.e., not equating himself as being equal with the Satan or Satan as being equal with Him. He made himself (though being equal with God) subject to His Heavenly Father's authority instead, i.e., subject to His Heavenly Father's will in all things commanded, showing all men how they must live, by faith.

© Institution for Authority Research, Dean Gotcher 2015-2016