What is Dialogue?
Over the past twenty years international society has experienced a rapid increase in the flows of people, money, technology, information and images across borders. It has also experienced an escalation of tension and violence throughout the world between states, nations, religions and cultures.
The challenges posed by these changes demonstrate that despite the interdependent nature of world affairs, problems of order and coexistence remain essentially unresolved.
In responding to these challenges, the Centre for Dialogue proposes to specialise in the theory and practice of dialogue across cultures, religions and nations.
The overriding aim of this research is to promote understanding of the opinions and values held by different ethnicities and belief systems. Effective dialogue will improve empathy for the 'other', and curb the severity of intercultural, interreligious and international conflicts that hinder peaceful and mutually beneficial relations.
The research carried out by the Centre for Dialogue adheres to six philosophical and practical touchstones. They are:
- the key to dialogue is not merely to recognize diversity, but to engage with the other in a common journey;
- dialogue must be approached with humility — no one has a monopoly on wisdom or truth;
- in dialogue we place equal emphasis on speaking and listening;
- in dialogue, participants hold up their own cultures and traditions to critical scrutiny;
- the dialogical method nurtures and is nurtured by empathy and compassion through telling and listening to each other's stories;
- in dialogue we discover ourselves through discovering the other.
Any comments or queries regarding the Centre's work and philosophy can be directed to:
Centre for Dialogue
- T: +61 (0)3 9479 1893
- E: dialogue@latrobe.edu.au