Agreeing not to agree
In a nice lecture series on human ecology (PDFs) I recently asked the lecturers and the audience what we can agree upon. My question was provoked since many lecturers repeatedly stressed the importance of diversity and tolerance. Anyway, my question was at most answered by silence.
So, I asked: “Can we agree upon the fact that we should agree upon something,” which in fact led to quite a discussion about what we might agree upon (for instance a discussion of indicators of sustainable development). One argument chased another only until someone asked why after all we have to agree upon something. Well, of course, they clearly see a need for diversity and alternatives, also in regard to strategies and opinions.
I then asked: “You mean we should agree that we should not agree?”
December 25th, 2007 at 13:10
Apparently, public access to the PDFs has been withdrawn. Thanks to the maintainers of “Der Humanökologiepreis” some material could be preserved.