The Art of Polemics
The ancient greeks dialogized in verses in theathers, while the old Romans orated on the Forum. Even nowadays everyone can step in front and keep freely a speech in London‘s Hyde Park.
And we Hungarians, how do we debate? We are so emotive that we easily forget what the discussion is about, and the contending parties are focusing entirely on each other, to win instead of to convince.
Not only we proceed in this counterproductive way, nowadays, but the whole world tends to do so. We have to remember ourselves, that the only right way to conduct a discussion is to persuade and compromise. Some cultures have a longer and better-established tradition for this, yet, everyone can reach the desirable state through well-intended training. We must befree ourselves of some bad traditions and overstep our obsession with thinking in the binary category of winners and losers. Quarrels are leading nowhere, but all parts can benefit from a decently reasoned argument.
(Kató Zoltán: Vitakultúra)
