Reaching a synthesis

Reaching a synthesis

Deductive and inductive reasoning are the two corner stones of a rational process whereby the individual can ascertain and/or develop rational conclusions about complex questions. When complex questions overflow the narrow boundaries of the natural sciences another form of reasoning is called for.

Dialectical reasoning forms the only process available for examining complex problems associated with multiple agents attempting to develop communicative action plans. Our newspapers are constantly filled with discourse about such problems; examples are abortion, stem cell research, Iraq war, Iran's nuclear ambitions, America's polarized electorate, etc. When many agents must come together to seek a majority judgment for the determination of an acceptable goal then dialectical reasoning is called for.


Dialogue is a technique for mutual consideration of such problems wherein solutions grow in a dialectical manner. Through dialogue each individual brings his/her point of view to the fore by proposing solutions constructed around their specific view. All participants in the dialogue come at the solution from the logic of their views. The solution builds dialectically i.e. a thesis is developed and from this thesis and a contrasting antithesis is constructed a synthesis that takes into consideration both proposals. From this a new synthesis, a new thesis is developed.


When we are dealing with problems well circumscribed by algorithms the personal biases of the subject are of small concern. In problems in which there are agents with varied concerns and varied world views, without the advantage of paradigms and algorithms, the biases of the problem solvers become a serious source of error. One important task of dialogue is to illuminate these prejudices which may be quite subtle and often out of consciousness of the participant holding them.

When we engage in a dialogue what happens? The first thing we find is that dialogue is unlike anything in which we have previously been involved. Group discussions generally digress quickly into verbal food fights and nothing positive is accomplished. Discussions become venues for shouting at one another. The most important thing discovered--provided you wished to advance your thinking so as to develop a means for solving intractable problems--is that skills and attitudes not presently possessed must be developed.