The Concept of Conversation: From Cicero’s Sermo to the Grand Siecle’s Conversation David Randall (2019)

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)

Salons A gathering of people under the roof of an inspiring host

British Gentlemen’s Clubs ** Viennese Coffeehouses ** Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter 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. … Continue reading Salons A gathering of people under the roof of an inspiring host