The idea of dialogue can refer to a conversation.
Originating from the Latin concept dialŏgus (which, in turn, derives from a Greek word), a dialogue describes a conversation between two or more individuals , who expose their ideas or affections in an alternative way to exchange positions. In that sense, a dialogue is also a discussion or contact that arises with the purpose of reaching an agreement .
An example of this meaning that the word in question has could be the one we present below: «The leaders of the two most important political parties in the country established an intense dialogue to try to find a solution and thus establish an agreement with the objective of improve the economic situation .
Dialogue in literature
On the other hand, dialogue can be described within the framework of a literary work , in prose or verse, in which a conversation takes place or controversies arise between two or more characters. It is used as a textual typology in literature when two characters appear who make use of diegetic discourse and act as interlocutors.
In this literary field, we have to highlight the existence of an author who established dialogue as a genre. This is none other than the Greek philosopher Plato who has an interesting work that is classified into four categories depending on the stage of his life to which they correspond.
Thus, in the first place would be the Socratic dialogues, which are the texts he wrote during his youth and which focus on issues of an ethical nature. In second place are the transition works that revolve around politics, and the third category corresponds to what are the critical dialogues that were carried out during his maturity and that are characterized because they talk about myths and ideas.
Finally, the fourth category is the one that encompasses the so-called old age dialogues. In them he not only raises issues that have already been the protagonists of previous works, but also aims to address new topics such as, for example, medicine and also nature.
Conversation with historical figures
Likewise, we must not forget that, throughout History, many writers have used the term dialogue to title works in which they themselves "converse" with important figures or with certain elements of our daily life.
This would be the case, for example, of Victoria Ocampo with Dialogue with Borges or Gianni Vattimo with Dialogue with Nietzsche .
A dialogue enables communication between two or more individuals.
Dialogue as a communicative resource
In its most common use, dialogue is a form present in both oral and written discourse where two or more people communicate with each other. It is a valid and appropriate resource to exchange ideas by any means, whether direct or indirect.
Dialogue can be either a friendly conversation or a violent argument. In any case, dialogue is usually spoken of as an exposition and exchange of thoughts where the interlocutor's positions are accepted and the participants are willing to modify their own points of view. That is why there is a consensus on the need for dialogue in fields such as politics , for example.
It is said that the will to power and authoritarianism tend to exclude dialogue, since they claim that their truth is the only valid one and discredit the opinions of opponents, in an attempt to strengthen their dominance.
Genuine dialogue attempts to seek the truth and promote knowledge without prejudice, unlike rhetoric that seeks to persuade and convince through manipulation of opinion.