DEWEY AND THE DIALOGICAL PROCESS: SPEAKING, LISTENING, AND TODAY'S MEDIA

Abstract

This article examines John Dewey's understanding of the importance of communication in the development and transmission of shared community values, and consequently, in the maintenance of democratic practices. At the root of any community is the storehouse of its common goods, and the process by which such goods are designated as common is dialogue. Dialogue is characterized by two activities—speaking and active listening—both of which involve the will of the actors to participate. This kind of dialogue becomes especially important in a democratic society when there are differences and disagreements about what constitutes the good. In a diverse and plural society, the communicative practice of dialogue then becomes a critical process for the maintenance and enrichment of the fundamental democratic bond. Failure to sustain authentic dialogue leads to social fragmentation and isolation and to the erosion of democratic community. Do today's media of communication—television, radio, and, especially, the Internet—enhance or constrain the possibilities for the authentic communication necessary to sustain democracy?