slogans SLOGANS Obscuring Dissensus Dodging Hard Problems adapted

slogans Etymology The Oxford English Dictionary tells us that SLOGAN comes from Gaelic slaugh host + gairm cry = battle cry It gives its definitions as: 1. battle cry, war-cry, or 2. distinctive note, phrase, cry, etc. of any person or body of persons. Consensus But at what Cost ? Slogans Promote Consensus. © 2010 New. Foundations ##

slogans Characteristics of Slogans In Promoting Consensus I Slogans tend to preempt discussion of

slogans ## Example 1 Every School, a Good Schoo Discussion of Options may be suppressed. Must every school be equally good in the same way? Vagueness may obscure dissensus. Whose ideas of good are to count? © 2010 New. Foundations

slogans ## Example 2 Support Our Troops! Discussion of Options may be suppressed. Must we also support the policies that send them into battle? Vagueness may obscure dissensus. Should we send them cards and letters or bring them home? © 2010 New. Foundations

slogans Slogans and Consensus narrow DEPTH OF CONSENSUS shallow deep BREADTH OF CONSENSUS SLANG TECHNICAL LANGUAGE broad SLOGANS EVERYDAY LANGUAGE Slogans achieve breadth of consensus at the cost of depth of consensus. © 2010 New. Foundations ##

slogans Two Problems with Slogans 1. they may support a false presumption of common

slogans Presuming Common Criteria The point of generating slogans is to broaden consensus. This may be achieved by covering over important differences in specific criteria among those who agree with the slogan. © 2010 New. Foundations ##

slogans From Slogan to Practice Translating Public to Actual Goals narrow BREADTH OF CONSENSUS shallow broad PUBLIC GOALS DEPTH OF CONSENSUS (SLOGANS) ACTUAL GOALS deep (TECHNICAL LANGUAGE) The actual goals of the practitioner may lack the breadth of consensus of the slogan that generated them. © 2010 New. Foundations ##

slogans ## False Causation Pseudo-Solutions give as a solution to a problem the very same problem restated in a negative manner. . Let’s see how. Example: Problem Funds are wasted. Increase efficiency! “Solution” © 2010 New. Foundations

slogans The Basic Technique ## Original “Problem: THE SCHOOLS ARE FAILING. Step 1: Negate the original, e. g. “The schools are not failing. ” Step 2: Find a synonym for the negative terms, e. g. “successful. ” Step 3: Substitute, “The schools are successful. ” Step 4: Solution -- Generate a command, “MAKE THE SCHOOLS SUCCESSFUL. ” © 2010 New. Foundations

slogans Advanced Technique ## Original “Problem: THE SCHOOLS ARE FAILING Step 5: Take the results from step 4 earlier, “Make the schools successful. ” Step 6: Find synonyms for the new term, “successful. ” e. g. “achieve high standards” Step 7: Substitute it, and reformulate “ALL SCHOOLS SHOULD ACHIEVE HIGH STANDARDS. ” © 2010 New. Foundations

slogans The "Can-It-Fail? "-Rule ## Ask of any solution-proposal, Can it fail? • “No” identifies pseudosolutions , semantic tricks. • “Yes” identifies a practical option, (which could possibly fail). © 2010 New. Foundations

slogans Some Examples PROBLEM SOLUTION? 1. Kids are noisy. . 1. Quiet them down 2. Kids are noisy. . . 2. Make them copy text 3. No homework is done. 3. Motivate them to do it. 4. No homework is done. 4. Threaten detentions. 5. Kids don't learn. 5. Hire “real” teachers. 6. Kids don't learn. 6. Feed them Wheaties. Solutions 1, 3 and 5 cannot fail. They are pseudo-solutions. . © 2010 New. Foundations ##