Communicative Ethics and
Blocked discourse
How consent is made
On communicative ethics
Deetz’s “Reclaiming the subject matter” argues
that we should no longer see ethical speech as
a barrier to effective speech.
On communicative ethics
Deetz’s “Reclaiming the subject matter” argues
that we should no longer see ethical speech as
a barrier to effective speech.
The key is to think about collective, rather than
individual goals and accomplishments.
On communicative ethics
We tend to think of ethical communication as
“person-centered” attempt to ensure free
expression of individual views.
On communicative ethics
Rather than starting with the individual person,
Deetz takes an alternative approach, viewing
ethical speech as a concern for the “outside—
the subject matter” (228).
On Communicative Ethics
On Communicative Ethics
The author claims that we should evaluate
systems (rather than individuals) from an
ethical standpoint, and that people with good
individual intentions might nonetheless
perpetuate an unethical system.
(see the list of questions he poses at the bottom
of 228-229)
On communicative ethics
Question: What does the author mean when he
says that ethics can be a “positive” force, not
merely a “speed limit” on self-interested
communication?
He explains the impact of the shift from personcentered to system/collective centered ethical
thinking at the bottom of 229-230.
On communicative ethics
Question: What does the author mean when he
says that ethics can be a “positive” force, not
merely a “speed limit” on self-interested
communication?
Question: How might unethical decision making
ultimately be inefficient?
On communicative ethics
Question: What does the author mean when he
says that ethics can be a “positive” force, not
merely a “speed limit” on self-interested
communication?
Question: How might unethical decision making
ultimately be inefficient?
Question: What does he mean when he says that
“the command of the outside—of the subject
matter” can be an ethical guide?
Genuine conversation
Genuine conversation
When confronted with a great work of art, for
instance, the goal is not expression individual
opinions, but rather, an orientation that allows
the work of art to speak.
Genuine conversation
“It is not one’s own feelings and concepts that
are at issue, for they are inevitably less than
the work has to offer. The attempt is rather to
help the other remove limitations to their own
seeing so that the work may more thoroughly
draw on them” (231).
Genuine Conversation
“the ideal is not ‘self expression and the
successful assertion of one’s point of view, but
a transformation into communion, in which
we do not remain what we were.’” (231).
Genuine Conversation
The ethical principle: “Every communicative act
should have as its ethical condition the
attempt to keep the conversation—the open
development of experience—going.” (232).
Blocked discourse
Blocked discourse
• “When discussion is thwarted, a particular
view of reality is maintained at the expense of
equally plausible ones usually to someone’s
advantage.” (Deetz, 235)
Blocked discourse
• “When discussion is thwarted, a particular
view of reality is maintained at the expense of
equally plausible ones usually to someone’s
advantage.” (Deetz, 235)
• “…systems of domination are protected from
careful exploration and political advantage is
protected and extended.”
Blocked discourse
A communication theorist should note the
“quiet, repetitive micro practices done for
innumerable reasons which function to
maintain normalized conflict-free experience
and social relations.” (235)
Blocked discourse
Deetz provides six ways of “blocking”
conversations that ought to happen…
Blocked discourse
Deetz provides six ways of “blocking”
conversations that ought to happen…
1. Disqualification
2. Naturalization
3. Neutralization
4. Topical avoidance
5. Subjectification of Experience
6. Meaning denial
Disqualification
Disqualification
• Keeping important conversations from
happening by denying someone’s right to
speak, or denying the value of their speech
Naturalization
Naturalization
• Keeping important conversations from
happening by claiming that the current
conditions are “Natural” or “just the way it is”
or “the way we do things around here.”
Neutralization
Neutralization
• Keeping conversations from happening by
claiming that the current condition is
“objective” or “value-free” and that only the
alternatives are “political” and “biased”
Neutralization
• Keeping conversations from happening by
claiming that the current condition is
“objective” or “value-free” and that only the
alternatives are “political” and “biased”
• This hides the fact that every system is
“political” and “biased”—and it protects the
dominant values from scrutiny.
Topical Avoidance
Topical Avoidance
• Keeping important conversations from
happening by making certain topics “offlimits.”
Subjectification of Experience
Subjectification of Experience
• Keeping conversations from advancing by
claiming that some position is “just my
opinion” (or “just your opinion”)… and
therefore not open to discussion
Subjectification of Experience
• Keeping conversations from advancing by
claiming that some position is “just my
opinion” (or “just your opinion”)… and
therefore not open to discussion
• Free and open Communication would require
that claims about our feelings and opinions
should be the start not the end of the
discussion
Meaning Denial
Meaning Denial
• Keeping important conversation from
happening by denying subtle or underlying
meanings
• This allows a person to get a message across
without having to take responsibility for it
Meaning Denial
• Keeping important conversation from
happening by denying subtle or underlying
meanings
• This allows a person to get a message across
without having to take responsibility for it
– Many forms of discrimination and sexual
harassment work this way…
Re-opening Conversation
Re-opening Conversation
• Metacommunication: Talk about talk–
pointing to discourse blockages and working
for greater reciprocity
Re-opening Conversation
• Metacommunication: Talk about talk–
pointing to discourse blockages and working
for greater reciprocity
• Rhetoric: Directly challenging dominant
meanings and interpretations
Re-opening Conversation
• Metacommunication: Talk about talk–
pointing to discourse blockages and working
for greater reciprocity
• Rhetoric: Directly challenging dominant
meanings and interpretations
• Strategy: Civil disobedience, disrupting
systems, forcing crises