I realize that many would likely doubt the usefulness of thinking in terms
of ‘winning’ or ‘losing’ this kind of ‘debate’ (or if ‘debate’ is the
correct way to characterize their discussion in the first place), however -
entertaining the idea, in the way it has been in this thread so far, just may have
its uses.
That is, what does it say of us if, beyond being influenced by the
presidential debates, we have come to reflexively impose upon all public discussion
the framework of a contest.
Who, that is, has not been influenced by decades of televised discussions
between liberal and conservative commentators where - far indeed from Socratic
purpose (and far enough from Lincoln/Douglas elegance) - the ‘issues’ are
far less the point than ‘winning’ or ‘losing’ adherents; and what then does
it say of us when sophistry is our way - so much so that the ‘usefulness’
of public discussion is measured precisely by the degree to which it is a
contest?
Taking, for example, what Foucault has to say about the need for the
critical examination of apparently neutral institutions, does televised public
discussion, understood as an institution or practice - empower one group over
another when it is constituted - as it most often is - as a ‘contest’?
In a message dated 10/18/2008 4:33:18 A.M. Hawaiian Standard Time,
aryavartacnsrn@xxxxxxxxx writes:
haha
I see where you're coming from
Though to be a bit literal, I have been watching the presidential debates.
What I meant to say though was, does anyone else, besides me, think that
Foucault come out ahead of Chomsky in that debate?
On Sat, Oct 18, 2008 at 6:41 AM, Timothy O'Leary <autrement@xxxxxxxxx>wrote:
> Dear Chetan,
>
> is it possible that you've been watching too many US presidential debates
> recently? In today's media circus, maybe one can "win" a debate, but that's
> hardly the point in intellectual discussion.
>
> Re Peter's question about the video: I seem to remember coming across a vcr
> of it a long time ago in a university library somewhere - perhaps in
> Australia - but I don't remember the details now.
>
> Regards,
> Timothy
>
>
> On Sat, Oct 18, 2008 at 12:33 PM, Chetan Vemuri <aryavartacnsrn@xxxxxxxxx
> >wrote:
>
> > but does anyone agree with me that Foucault won the debate?
> >
> > On Fri, Oct 17, 2008 at 11:18 PM, peter chamberlain <natakimd@xxxxxxxxx
> > >wrote:
> >
> > > that would be the 12 minutes already available. not the entire debate
i
> > > believe.
> > > _______________________________________________
> > > Foucault-L mailing list
> > >
> >
> >
> >
> > --
> > Chetan Vemuri
> > West Des Moines, IA
> > aryavartacnsrn@xxxxxxxxx
> > (515)-418-2771
> > "You say you want a Revolution! Well you know, we all want to change the
> > world"
> > _______________________________________________
> > Foucault-L mailing list
> >
> _______________________________________________
> Foucault-L mailing list
>
--
Chetan Vemuri
West Des Moines, IA
aryavartacnsrn@xxxxxxxxx
(515)-418-2771
"You say you want a Revolution! Well you know, we all want to change the
world"
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