Law Commons^™

Violence And Poltical Incivility, David Lyons

Mercer Law Review

The charge to our panel refers to "the deterioration of the political conversation," to "deep ... divisions in society," and to recent violence- especially the tragic events in Tuscon. It asks us to identify "the virtues required.for our common life as citizens in a democracy and for civil democratic conversation." I shall offer observations and conjectures on each issue, stressing the historical background.

Let me suggest, first,. that the nonconstructive and increasingly abusive character of our political discourse may be relatively mild manifestations of an even more troubling malaise of our society- commonplace unlawful violence. I wish to draw your …

Some Concluding Reflections—Recovering The Political: The Problem With Our Politicial Conversations, Jack L. Sammons

Mercer Law Review

I am going to use parts of Gene Garver's thoughtful analysis' to frame these remarks, as it did much of the conversation at the symposium, but without much concern about the troublesome distinction between epideictic and deliberative rhetoric. As long as it is understood that epideictic rhetoric, like deliberative, is within the art of persuasion-it is in the particular form of getting an audience to see its object of praise or blame in a new light for, as Aristotle says, quoting Socrates, "it is not difficult to praise Athenians in Athens"3-I do not think I need to be very concerned …