My decision to go back to school was initially motivated by professional necessity—my bachelor’s degree was getting me nowhere. Thankfully, it has since evolved into a motivation to better understand the art of communication, an aspect of humanity that influences every second of our lives. Doing this has made me consider everything in a different light: what problems could we solve with effective, ethical communication?
Striving for an Authentic Dialogic Ethic
Our textbook for Communicating Mindfully (COM 616) has been particularly insightful regarding communication ethics. Arnett, Fritz, and Bell (2009) have taught me the value of difference in our lives. And in many cases, difference holds a special importance in our dialogic encounters:
“In my dialogic encounter with you, I will not only listen for your radical alterity but I will open and make place for it. It means that I do not resort only to what is easy—what I already know, or what we have in common. It means that I listen for and make space for the difficult, the different, the radically strange.”
(Lipari, 2004, p. 138, as cited in Arnett et al., 2009, p. 227)
In our current American society, difference is a war-zone. I have many good friends and family members who fail to open their mind to competing ideas. Practicing a dialogic communication ethic means that we are always willing to listen and try to understand each other’s differences. Reading this made so much sense and was almost like a light-bulb going off in my head. No wonder our country is so divided right now!
Through the knowledge I’ve gained from this class, I hope that I can help bridge the gap with those who are different from me. I’m not too optimistic in changing the political landscape, but I am hopeful that I can impart an appreciation and embrace of difference with my family, friends, colleagues, and students.
Different Interpretations of the Good
In keeping with the idea of widespread difference, our textbook has shown me that the opposite of the good is not necessarily “the bad.” Instead, a person’s interpretation of ethical communication depends on what goods they choose to protect and promote:
“Just as there is no longer an expectation of finding one good that will unite us, there should be no expectation that one communication ethic can and should govern all communicative life.”
(Arnett et al., 2009, p. 214)
This is the beauty of communication ethics—plural! There are so many ways to interpret someone’s communication ethic from a theoretical standpoint. Consequently, we find that there is always more than one way of communicating ethically. This hearkens back to the importance of difference in our modern lives; we must always be open to new ways of doing things.
My Communication Ethics Glasses
Arnett et al. (2009) also refer to communication ethics literacy as a pair of prescription eyeglasses, thus making it easier to see we communicate with each other:
“Communication ethics theory is a form of optical lenses necessary for engaging and understanding the complexity of issues involved in discerning the good. […] One must obtain the right prescription in order to assist one’s vision; otherwise, one will actually see less clearly.”
(Arnett et al., 2009, p. 217)
I’ve been wearing glasses since the 6th grade, and I can certainly attest to the accuracy of this metaphor. When I first got my prescription glasses, I put them on said, “Whoa! I can all the leaves on the trees!” I had a similar reaction when reading our textbook. “Whoa! Now I see how unethical a lot of our communication is!”
I will certainly keep this textbook handy throughout the rest of my education. Learning to communicate something is one thing; doing it ethically is another battle entirely. It will also serve me well in the professional world by helping me navigate the world of organizational communication ethics. I look forward to utilizing it, just like a pair of prescription eye glasses!
References:
- Arnett, R. C., Fritz, J. M., & Bell, L. M. (2009). Communication ethics literacy: Dialogue and difference. Los Angeles, CA: Sage Publications.
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