In the book Conversation: A History of a Declining Art, Stephen Miller pursues a lifelong interest in conversation by taking a historical and philosophical view of the subject. He chronicles the art of conversation in Western civilization from its beginnings in ancient Greece to its apex in eighteenth-century Britain to its current endangered state in … Continue reading Conversation: A History of a Declining Art Stephen Miller (2007)
In “The Concept of Conversation,” David Randall argues conversation, often overlooked in history, profoundly shaped early modern Europe. He reveals how it transformed from elite philosophical discourse to encompass friendship, salons, the press, and even women’s voices. Challenging Habermas’s view, Randall sees conversation, not just rational public debate, as central to intellectual progress, with women … Continue reading The Concept of Conversation: From Cicero’s Sermo to the Grand Siecle’s Conversation David Randall (2019)
Terminology First, let’s consider the terminology. People have gathered in various settings for conversation and social interaction throughout history. These settings include coffeehouses, salons, clubs, and, even in ancient times, around campfires. There is a need for a generic term to capture the essence of these places in a broad sense. Commonly used words to … Continue reading Introduction: Conversational Spaces Meeting places for conversations
The Enlightenment or the “Age of Reason” was a time of scientific, political, and philosophical discourse in the 17th and 18th centuries. Introduction The Enlightenment or the “Age of Reason” was a time of scientific, political, and philosophical discourse in the 17th and 18th centuries (circa 1650 – 1800) It was centered around the idea … Continue reading The Enlightenment The Age of Reason
In the 17th and 18th centuries, salons flourished in Paris, Vienna, and the rest of Europe. Salons were social gatherings hosted in private homes, usually by prominent women, in which men and women engaged in intellectual conversation in pursuit of knowledge. The women who hosted these salons were known as salonnières. They had a lot … Continue reading Salons A gathering of people under the roof of an inspiring host
