Civilisation is not only the set of cultural and organisational aspects relating to a community in a given period; it is a living organism, a kind of “collective self” to which each of us belongs. Although none of us loses the ability to speak, within civilisation it becomes increasingly difficult to distinguish what in communication is produced by our individual selves and what by the various collective “we” that make up civilisation itself.
In this first meeting, we will explore why using meaningful words—words endowed with sense—requires an effort of attention and reflection to which we are no longer accustomed, and why, whether we wish it or not, one part of our mind absorbs the language of civilisation by osmosis and can no longer fully communicate with the other part. Resistance is impossible. Surrender is a relief.
