In the second of three social imaginaries that we look at as mutations away from the religion/politics stronghold, we talk in this episode about the public sphere.

Charles Taylor guides us through the changing landscape of dialogue that comes with commercial print media in the 1800s, as a trans-location, inter-referring conversation opens up. And the speed and reach of this dialogue has only amplified with the internet. How is the common opinion formed? How are are personal opinions formed? Is something true just because we saw or read it somewhere? Are things in the digital realm as real as things in the tangible?

Reflection:

-What forces and fears are at work when I curate how I express myself in the digital realm?

-What am I doing to develop my own moral conscience and power for reasoned decision making?

References:

-Pages of A Secular Age, Charles Taylor: (185-196)

Website:

https://sites.google.com/contemplatingculture