Silence, Civility, and Sanity
Hope for Humanity in a Digital Age
Abstract
Silence, Civility, and Sanity addresses the reclamation of civil communication and healthy public conversation at a time when people are very divided. Throughout this book, Stephanie Bennett focuses on the importance of silence to temper speech and embrace the art of listening to foster a more positive dialogue and civil society. Throughout this book, the author addresses the place of silence as a communicational good, intrapersonal silence in the history of contemplative prayer, the importance of attentive silence, the reflective use of silence, the ethical dimensions of silence, and the abuses of silence. This book also delves into the layers of technological advancement that obscure perception and act as noise that poses as silence, phantom silence. Bennett offers readers an alternative to the false binaries of culture-warring that plague our relationships, institutions, and public sphere. Scholars of communication, rhetoric, and media studies will find this book of particular interest.
- i–xviii Preface i–xviii
- 7–16 Why Silence? 7–16
- 71–100 Ontological Silence 71–100
- 101–118 Phantom Silence 101–118
- 119–138 Relational Silence 119–138
- 139–156 Ethical Silence 139–156
- 157–176 Unhealthy Silence 157–176
- 177–184 Bibliography 177–184
- 185–194 Index 185–194
- 195–196 About the Author 195–196