The Phenomenon of Conversation

Dorota CHABRAJSKA

ohn Paul II Institute, Faculty of Philosophy, John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, Al. Racławickie 14, 20-950 Lublin, Poland , Poland

Abstract

The present essay comprises an attempt at a philosophical reconstruction of the idea of ‘conversation’ as depicted by René Magritte in a series of paintings entitled L’art de la conversation. Magritte’s vision is then juxtaposed with the modern interpretation of conversation as a sequence of communicative acts and with the consequences of this modern approach in particular for the pursuit of philosophy and the humanities, which has become devoid of spontaneity and is increasingly formalized.

Keywords:

René Magritte, L’art de la conversation, conversation, person, dialogicality, origins of philosophy, history of the humanities, communicative acts, Markus Werner