Customer Reviews

Judgment, Rhetoric, and the Problem of Incommensurability: Recalling Practical Wisdom

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I read Heidlebaugh's book at just the right time, after working through classical texts in rhetoric from the pre-Socratic to Cicero. The issue she deals with is clearly delimited: How can people (for example pro-Life and pro-Choice advocates) who come to a discussion with incompatible assumptions actually communicate rather than attempt to dominate or talk past one another? Heidlebaugh brings to the issue an intimate knowledge of classical rhetoric and applies this ancient wisdom to modern and postmodern issues showing that wildly divergent systemic thinking provides opportunities for the generation of new practical knowledge. She celebrates the clash of opposing views in the arenas of deliberation, justice and values-building as the engine which drives the production of virtuous judgement concerning issues we all hold dear. She exposes the commonalies between views we consider in opposisiton and helps the reader come to a new understanding of the common place of thought, judgement and public resposibility in which we must talk and act. Whether you are a conservative Christian (as I am) or a post-modern relativist you will want to have Nola Heidlebaugh as a conversation partner. Bravo.