Conversation: A History of a Declining ArtYale University Press, 1 d’oct. 2008 - 368 pàgines Essayist Stephen Miller pursues a lifelong interest in conversation by taking an historical and philosophical view of the subject. He chronicles the art of conversation in Western civilization from its beginnings in ancient Greece to its apex in eighteenth-century Britain to its current endangered state in America. As Harry G. Frankfurt brought wide attention to the art of bullshit in his recent bestselling On Bullshit, so Miller now brings the art of conversation into the light, revealing why good conversation matters and why it is in decline. Miller explores the conversation about conversation among such great writers as Cicero, Montaigne, Swift, Defoe, Lady Mary Wortley Montagu, and Virginia Woolf. He focuses on the world of British coffeehouses and clubs in “The Age of Conversation” and examines how this era ended. Turning his attention to the United States, the author traces a prolonged decline in the theory and practice of conversation from Benjamin Franklin through Hemingway to Dick Cheney. He cites our technology (iPods, cell phones, and video games) and our insistence on unguarded forthrightness as well as our fear of being judgmental as powerful forces that are likely to diminish the art of conversation. |
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Resultats 1 - 5 de 24.
Pàgina 8
... leading statesman and essayist for whom Swift had worked ( 1689-1699 ) . In " On the Death of Mrs. Johnson , " written in 1728 but published posthumously , Swift discusses her conver- sation — first making the general point that ...
... leading statesman and essayist for whom Swift had worked ( 1689-1699 ) . In " On the Death of Mrs. Johnson , " written in 1728 but published posthumously , Swift discusses her conver- sation — first making the general point that ...
Pàgina 26
... leading his- torian of politeness , says : " Though the term politeness had many uses in this period , it referred most directly to the pro- tocols of good conversation . " Politeness was a term of French origin — from the French verb ...
... leading his- torian of politeness , says : " Though the term politeness had many uses in this period , it referred most directly to the pro- tocols of good conversation . " Politeness was a term of French origin — from the French verb ...
Pàgina 58
... leading Scottish clergyman . Hume enjoyed his conversations with Blair — except when the topic was religion . Hume writes Blair that he likes talking about many subjects , " but when the conversation was diverted by you from this ...
... leading Scottish clergyman . Hume enjoyed his conversations with Blair — except when the topic was religion . Hume writes Blair that he likes talking about many subjects , " but when the conversation was diverted by you from this ...
Pàgina 72
... leading salonnieres . They include Madame Geoffrin , about whom he said , " There are few heads naturally better than hers " ; Mademoiselle de Les- pinasse , who " is really one of the most sensible Women in Paris " ; and the Comtesse ...
... leading salonnieres . They include Madame Geoffrin , about whom he said , " There are few heads naturally better than hers " ; Mademoiselle de Les- pinasse , who " is really one of the most sensible Women in Paris " ; and the Comtesse ...
Pàgina 74
... leading thinkers and writers of Britain and France if the conversation had mostly been about trivial topics . The entry for conversa- tion in the famous Encyclopedia says : " The laws of conversa- tion generally discourage leaning too ...
... leading thinkers and writers of Britain and France if the conversation had mostly been about trivial topics . The entry for conversa- tion in the famous Encyclopedia says : " The laws of conversa- tion generally discourage leaning too ...
Continguts
29 | |
EighteenthCentury Britain | 79 |
A Conversational Triumph Lady | 119 |
Raillery to Reverie | 150 |
From Benjamin | 194 |
From | 242 |
NINE The Ways We Dont Converse Now | 264 |
TEN The End of Conversation? | 291 |
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According Addison admired agree American anger appeared argues asked attacked attended avoid became become Boswell Britain called century cities civil clubs Coffee coffeehouses common continually conversationalist conversible world critic culture describes dinner discussion easy effect eighteenth-century England English enjoyed essay feel Franklin friends give guests human Hume ideas implies important Instant Messaging interest Italy Johnson Lady Mary leading learned less letter listen live London look mainly manners means meet mind natural never one's opinion party passions person play pleasures poem polite popular praised questions raillery reason refers remark salon sation says seems sense social society Socrates solitude sounds speaks Spectator sublime suffering Swift talk thing thought tion told turn versation wants women Woolf writers wrote young