The dialog begins with ourselves. Each of us can contribute to the creation of an atmosphere of mutual understanding and respect, as well as to the solution of any issues, including world problems.
In today’s world, saturated with information and overflowing with all sorts of, often contradictory points of view, it is becoming increasingly difficult to find common ground and come to an agreement. This applies to socializing with others, family conversations, and international negotiations. So what can help in sharing ideas, resolving conflicts, developing relationships and finding agreement?
Philosophy is studied in many educational institutions. A special place in the program is given to Socrates. Or rather, his method of teaching, which is called the Socratic method or the method of dialog. Rather than providing students with ready-made answers and knowledge, Socrates encouraged reasoning and independent exploratory thinking. He asked questions and provoked students to analyze their beliefs and opinions.
Socrates skillfully used irony when questioning his students’ confidence in their knowledge and beliefs. He often pretended not to know the answer to a question and tried to expose the flaws in the arguments of others. The main goal of the Socratic method was to help students find truth through critical thinking and self-knowledge. He believed that true knowledge could only be attained through discussion and reflection. Often Socrates’ dialogues ended in a state of insoluble aporia, when no definitive answer to the questions posed could be found. This encouraged pupils to investigate the topic further and improve their knowledge.
And one more very important aspect: Socrates encouraged his students to self-knowledge – to explore their feelings, aspirations, fears, doubts, and moral values. The philosopher was convinced that realizing one’s ignorance and errors was the first step to acquiring true knowledge.
He left no written work. We learned about Socrates’ methodology from the works of his student Plato, who recorded many of his teacher’s dialogues. I want to give a few dialogs to convince the reader of the importance of this wonderful tool.
From the dialog of Gorgias:
Calicles: “So, Socrates, do you believe that one should shy away from pleasure and seek out suffering?”
Socrates: “No, Callicles, I do not believe that one should shy away from pleasure and seek suffering. I believe that one should strive for true pleasure, which brings spiritual well-being and happiness.”
From the dialog “The Apologia of Socrates”:
Socrates: “So I will go on, teaching you, and doing what I have always done, that is, urging each one of you whom I meet and whom I hear, not to be concerned about bodily goods and not to think about good for the soul, so that you will not be carried away by riches and spend your life in vanity, without any benefit for yourself and for others.”
From the dialog Parmenides:
Parmenides: “But tell me, Socrates, which do you regard as being and which as bearing?”
Socrates: ‘I consider the soul and body to exist, and ignorance and delusion to be the bearers.’
But let’s leave Socrates and consider: what is it that really makes dialog so useful?
Dialogue is a powerful learning tool. I can attest to this as an educator. Many goals can be achieved through the dialog process.
– Stimulation of thinking – dialog motivates students to think critically, ask questions and consider problems from different perspectives, and develop analytical and creative skills.
– Facilitating the exchange of ideas – through dialog, students can share opinions and ideas, learn to express their thoughts and beliefs, and listen to the perspectives of others. This contributes to enriching knowledge and understanding of different perspectives.
– Forms argumentation – through the process of dialog, students learn to construct logically sound arguments and convince others of their point of view. This can come in handy in everyday communication as well.
– Social Skills Development – Dialogue promotes communication skills, including listening and empathy, teaches respect for other people’s points of view and conflict resolution.
– Deepen understanding – dialog allows for a deeper understanding of a topic or concept as it allows you to understand details and uncover hidden aspects. Students often remember and understand information better when they discuss it with others.
– Keeping students motivated – dialog can make learning more interesting and engaging because it creates an atmosphere of active participation and gives students the opportunity to contribute to the learning process.
I think the ability to dialog is absolutely necessary for everyone. Let’s admit to ourselves that we are rarely open to this kind of communication. Perhaps that’s why we find it so hard to agree, and we lean in the opposite direction – the side of conflict. We all, without exception, need to learn the skills of dialog. The desire to listen to your opponent, to discuss the issue calmly, to try to come to a common conclusion – is this not a direct road to peace?
Let’s see it happen:
Search for common ground – the parties discuss their contradictions, try to find common values and interests that can be taken as a basis for conflict resolution.
Improved rapport – discussing each other’s motives and needs, which in turn can reduce tension and aggression.
Identifying compromises – the parties find solutions that take into account the interests of both sides and extinguish the conflict.
Building trust – the result of dialog – building trust and reducing hostility.
Preventing future conflic ts – parties can develop measures that will prevent future conflicts and promote long-term stability.
However, it should be remembered that the successful use of dialogues requires goodwill on the part of all participants and the observance of certain conditions, such as the safety of the participants and the presence of a mediator, if necessary.
In order for this process to go more smoothly, without unnecessary tension, the art of dialog should be taught to everyone, preferably from an early age. This will help children develop skills in communication, empathy, understanding and interacting with others. This requires regular conversations with children on a variety of topics. Listen to their opinions, ask questions and encourage them to speak up. We need to teach children to understand other people’s feelings and needs. This can be done through playing games, reading books, and discussing situations.
Children are able to learn other important skills – expressing thoughts and arguing their opinions. This will help them to develop the ability to make informed statements. Allow children to resolve conflicts peacefully and seek compromise! This is an important skill for communicating with others. Well, and of course, you need to be an example of effective and respectful communication. Children learn a lot by watching adults.
Of course, it would not hurt to teach adults how to interact through dialog in order to be able to find common solutions. For example, in special courses. Don’t forget that the dialog begins with ourselves. Each of us can contribute to the creation of an atmosphere of mutual understanding and respect, as well as to the solution of any issues, including world problems. Start developing your dialog skills today and you will see how they contribute to your growth and reconnection with the world around you. Dialogue is not only the key to success, but also to harmony in our world.
