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Designing within: Dr Bela H. Banathy's contributions to the self‐organization of public discourse
Author(s) -
Walton Douglas C.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
systems research and behavioral science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.371
H-Index - 45
eISSN - 1099-1743
pISSN - 1092-7026
DOI - 10.1002/sres.622
Subject(s) - public sphere , foundation (evidence) , sociology , public discourse , civilization , epistemology , political science , politics , law , philosophy
The currently institutionalized forms of public discourse are based on assumptions and concepts that are becoming obsolete. Moreover, many theorists, such as Bela H. Banathy, assert that these aging societal structures are now being strained to breaking point by contemporary human civilization, which has become vastly more technologically, politically, and socially complex than these institutions can accommodate. If these assertions are taken as correct, a radical new form of public discourse is required that can transform the existing institutional structure. To that end, Banathy's work on evolutionary inquiry and the New Agoras for the twenty‐first century offers an essential foundation for a new means of organizing public discourse. This article explores how his achievements can contribute to a sweeping reformation of dialogue in the public sphere. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.