Conversations Do Their Own Thing
Deep Dives
Explore related topics with these Wikipedia articles, rewritten for enjoyable reading:
-
The Age of Innocence
12 min read
Edith Wharton's novel is quoted prominently and discussed as a catalyst for thinking about conversation and social convention. Readers would benefit from understanding the novel's themes of emotional repression and social constraint that parallel the article's exploration of authentic dialogue.
-
Luck egalitarianism
12 min read
David O'Brien's paper discusses luck egalitarianism as his theory of justice, which is central to the philosophical conversation featured in the article. Understanding this specific philosophical position enriches comprehension of the academic dialogue presented.
-
Ideal theory
10 min read
The article discusses non-ideal theorizing in philosophy and what justice demands in difficult real-world conditions. Understanding the distinction between ideal and non-ideal theory in political philosophy provides essential context for O'Brien's arguments about institutional accountability.
“My favorite moment in life is not knowing where a conversation is going to go.”
— Paula McAvoy
I wrote that down while Paula was telling a story of an unexpected conversation she once had in a northwoods Wisconsin supper club. She was on a panel at NAAPE 2024, responding to Sarah Stitzlein’s 2024 book "Teaching Honesty in a Populist Era: Emphasizing Truth in the Education of Citizens.”
Feeling uncertain about the direction of a conversation but heading there anyway is just so fun. We love a good conversation here at the Center for Ethics and Education. Today’s newsletter, all about conversation, was written for you by Ria Dhingra, our CEE Postgraduate Fellow (and a terrific conversationalist).
—Carrie Welsh, CEE program director
……….
What is Good Conversation?
by Ria Dhingra
“Ah, good conversation — there's nothing like it, is there? The air of ideas is the only air worth breathing.”
― Edith Wharton, The Age of Innocence
I’m still thinking about that line from Edith Wharton’s The Age of Innocence, which I (an English major) finally got around to reading last summer. It’s both a biting critique and a nostalgic elegy for late 1870’s high class New York Society.1 The novel explores feeling trapped by convention and emotional repression. It’s witty and acute in its narration. I found myself laughing and later moved to tears; I cannot recommend it enough.
To me (also a philosophy major), there is nothing better than a good conversation. Good conversations feel more important than ever right now. But what is a good conversation? Is it fun? Fast paced? Philosophical? After all, “there’s nothing like it.” To a philosopher, one who lives in the world of ideas, “it’s the only air worth breathing.”
So, today’s newsletter will explore: what constitutes a good conversation?
Contents:
Listen to a short conversation between two good friends
Philosopher David O’Brien on not being a wizard with all the answers
Good guides for navigating college
Harry Brighouse on the dinner party magic of assigned seating
Tennis and Time Travel: Conversation Chemistry
by Ria Dhingra
My favorite conversations are where you lose track of time and get lost in a series of overlapping tangents. Wanting to stay after class to continue questioning a reading. The phone battery dying in the middle of a late-night phone call.
In a newsletter about conversation,
...This excerpt is provided for preview purposes. Full article content is available on the original publication.