Quote #1
Madame de Stael worked to make her salon a new Athenian symposium where those responsible for the government of men could cultivate the wisdom necessary to bring reason and virtue into the art of making policy and writing legislation. Pg 52
Questions #1
• Could you call government policy-making and legislation-writing an "art"
being practiced in Ottawa?
• What is the Athenian symposium?
• Would it be a good thing to revive? Has it already been done?
Quote #2
[under Louis xviii] ...doubts about the political influence of salons centred on two forms of deception, one involving the use of elegant manners by charlatans to give them selves an "illusory importance " and the other concerning the ability of the mediocre to silence merit with ridicule and lower the general political intelligence of society. Pg 100
Questions #2
• If we substitute the name of an "all news channel " or a "cable network" for
the word "salon" in the quote above, does anything specific come to mind ?
• Does history repeat itself?
3 comments:
re: Question # 1. Could government policy-making be called an art?
This made me wonder about the act of governing. about the purpose of governments or governing. are these about forming societies or constructing or creating structure for society? and in that action does the governing or policy made form or shape the culture and the society? does it essentially create the world we live in on some level?
and if that is so, then maybe one could call government policy-making art. Is any act of creation art? or are some acts which appear to be creation actually manipulation?
Is government policy-making and legislation manipulation? maybe there is another word for this.
I think that quote number 2 describes the current 'modus operandi' of Parliament debate.
Seems to me that manipulation in its negative form is a method used to ensure personal gain, either directly or through channels one is associated with, regardless of its impact on others. It is self-preserving, and self-serving.
Manipulation also to me, indicates directly affecting a person or circumstance, often diminishing the latter and giving more power to the former.
We use the word manipulation to refer to manual applications and tools as well, such as 'manipulating a pair of scissors'; but again, this is using a tool, exacting pressure, force or will on something for a particular outcome.
I would guess that where artistic practice differs, is that while tools are manipulated, GENERALLY, a set outcome is not always known. At least where process is the focus.
the use of elegant manners by charlatans to give them selves an "illusory importance " could this be the Bush White house? The new PMO?
no, no elegance
and the other concerning the ability of the mediocre to silence merit with ridicule and lower the general political intelligence of society. but this, this sounds all too familiar.
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