Analogy as a Fundamental Tool of Dialogical Paradigm in Philosophy: On Integrity, Attitude and Style

The aim of my talk is to show how dialogical philosophy contributes to integrity of human beings (based on dialogical concept of style), to a dialogue between people, and to dialogical relations between philosophy, arts and sciences.

Contemporary dialogical thought (Martin Buber, Franz Rosenzweig, Paulo Freire, Jozef Tischner) calls for a revolutionary change in philosophy; namely this strategic pivot in philosophy and culture in general focuses our attention on encounters as a fundamental kind of experience. Hence the primary goal of philosophical investigation is a better understanding of the Other. However, establishing a real dialogue is considered already a groundbreaking achievement that must fulfil many conditions.

On the one hand, we do not have a theory of a dialogue, and this dialogical paradigm in philosophy is explicitly anti-systematic and emerged specifically as a rejection of (German) idealistic tradition. On the other hand, I would argue it requires certain theoretical tools and methodological consciousness. In my talk I would like to point out the fundamental role of (broadly understood) logic considered as the ethics of thinking (following Jan Łukasiewicz) and even as a dialogue; it was Jozef Tischner who said that dialogue is a logic between people. That is why, I would propose the replacing the classic Emmanuel Levinas' phrase "ethics as first philosophy", with "logic as first philosophy."

Polish philosopher M.A. Krapiec wrote both the language of everyday life and the language of philosophy are essentially analogical (...). Becoming aware of its analogical character and of the nature of analogy itself used in language is the only way to make this language more precise and not to replace analogical names with univocal ones. Hence, the use of the concept of analogy naturally favors the formation of humble and flexible attitudes towards the Other.

The fundamental role of analogy in dialogue will be presented in my talk from a perspective how dialogical paradigm contributes to integrity understood as a certain "overallness" (following John Kekes), its connection to the notion of style and by consequence pluriversality in philosophy, art and sciences.

The main problems in dialogical thinking and actions are, of course, serious misunderstandings and failed encounters. Therefore, the concept of "dialogical attitude" is of utmost importance, as it connects the issue of understanding with a concept of style. As a result, it helps us make sense of cultural differences that make our encounters difficult if not impossible.