Offers insight and practical guidance for people interested in improving their interpersonal relationships in an age of rampant cynicism. Dialogic Civility in a Cynical Age offers a philosophical and pragmatic response to unreflective cynicism. Considering that each of us has faced inappropriate cynical communication in families, educational institutions, and the workplace, this book offers insight and practical guidance for people interested in improving their interpersonal relationships in an age of rampant cynicism.

Table of Contents:
Foreword Acknowledgments Part I. Interpersonal Praxis: From Communicative Crisis To Narrative Action 1. Introduction: Beginning the Conversation An Overview Horizon of Significance The Conceptual Key 2. Voices of Cynicism and Hope Routine Cynicism Interpersonal Suspicion Language Disconnected from Action Listening to Two Sides of Cynicism Routine Cynicism as Debilitating Cynicism as Survival Tool The Wedding of Cynicism and Hope Pain and Joy Hope within Limits 3. Historicality and Presence A Foundation for Communicative Change Historicality Missing the Historical Moment Meeting the Historical Moment Dialogic Limits A Dialogic Perspective A Practical Dialectic Interpersonal Praxis as Historical Common Sense Interpersonal Commonplaces 4. Common Ground: Interpersonal Narrative Opening Narrative Structures Narrative Background From Metanarrative to Therapeutic Culture Historical Mismatch—The Therapeutic Metaphor An Overextended Metaphor Walter Lippmann's Warning A Narrative Ethic for Interpersonal Discourse Part II. Interpersonal Voices Section 1. Narrative Decline: Interpersonal Dialogue and Self 5. Carl Rogers: A Voice of Pragmatic Optimism Introduction Significance of Carl Rogers's Life and Practice A Founding Voice Scope of Carl Rogers's Influence The Quiet Revolutionary Communicative Focus Historical Grounding An Optimistic Listener Central Concepts in Carl Rogers's Work Self Innate Wisdom of the Human Organism Relationship Historicality and Dialogic Civility 6. Abraham Maslow: Science, Values, and Additive Change Introduction Significance of Abraham Maslow's Science/Values Project Additive Approach to Science Additive Education Self in Service to the Other Central Concepts in Abraham Maslow's Work A Science of Interpersonal Health Human Values Self-Actualization and Earned Self-Esteem Peak-Experiences Historicality and Dialogic Civility Section 2. Narrative Confrontation: Interpersonal Dialogue and Crisis 7. Martin Buber: Attending and Response Between Persons Introduction Martin Buber's Common Center: The Between Horizon of the Between The Existential-Phenomenological Nature of the Between Ambiguity, Story, and Guidance A Communicative Poetic Central Concepts in Martin Buber's Work The Great Character Dialogue Focus of Attention Authenticity Historicality and Dialogic Civility 8. Carol Gilligan: Gender and Moral Voice Introduction Historical Context: A Window for Cynicism Moral Voices Central Concepts in Carol Gilligan's Work Female Adolescence Disconnection Re-Connection and Care Responsibility in Relationship-Grounded Caring A Dialectical Dance A Morality of Care Voice and Inclusion Historicality and Dialogic Civility 9. Paulo Freire: Dignity and the Limits of Inclusion Introduction Interpersonal Pedagogy Humility Praxis Affirming the Other The Limits of Inclusion Central Concepts in Paulo Freire's Work Rejecting a Culture of Silence Narrative Sickness Critical Consciousness Dialogue Historicality and Dialogic Civility 10. Sissela Bok: Crisis and Ethical Imagination Introduction Ethics and Postmodernity Communication without Ethical Coherence Central Concepts in Sissela Bok's Work Lying Secrets Peace Common Values Historicality and Dialogic Civility 11. Viktor Frankl: Meaning, Displacement, and Courage Introduction Lived Life as Thoughtful Action Central Concepts in Viktor Frankl's Work Pragmatic Spiritualism Meeting Disappointment and Suffering Discovering Meaning Tripod of Meaning Tragic Triad Freedom Problematic Assumptions Self-Actualization Contrary to the Pleasure Principle Choosing Meaning Historicality and Dialogic Civility Section 3. Narrative Construction: Interpersonal Dialogue and Story 12. Nel Noddings: Re-Storying an Ethic of Care Introduction Re-Storying Ethics Missing Stories Caring as Story Moral Education Central Concepts in Nel Noddings's Work Reducing Evil An Ethic of Caring Caring in Relation Risks of Caring Intuition and Interpersonal Reasoning Intuitive Capacities Complementary to Reason Meaning and Story Historicality and Dialogic Civility 13. Robert Bellah: Re-Storying Broken Covenants Introduction The Practices of Identity Individualism Therapeutic Limits Characters of Modern Life Central Concepts in Robert Bellah's Work Broken Covenants Tacit Understanding of a Problematic Story Communicative Background—The Common Good Inviting Community Historicality and Dialogic Civility Part III. Dialogic Civility 14. The Interpersonal Praxis of Dialogic Civility From Privatized to Public Discourse A Minimal Foundation for Dialogic Civility Respect and Civility Civility and the Other A Call for Dialogic Civility From Unreflective Practice to Praxis Our Historical Problematic Practical Philosophy of Dialogic Civility Conclusion—Dialogic Civility Works Cited Index