"What would be the purpose, exactly, of attempting any sort of dialogue with people who are incapable of comparing mythologies?; of having someone merely talk at us, understanding conversation only in terms of victory and defeat?" My caveat is that more than reason is always going on. Sometimes the dialogue is really softening hearts, in spite of all appearance to the contrary, and the fruit is only seen much later.
It seems to me, though, that an eloquent silence can often soften such hearts much more effectively than a verbal response—you know, like at the end of "The Grand Inquisitor." Any words could just be twisted to reinforce their trip.
"What would be the purpose, exactly, of attempting any sort of dialogue with people who are incapable of comparing mythologies?; of having someone merely talk at us, understanding conversation only in terms of victory and defeat?" My caveat is that more than reason is always going on. Sometimes the dialogue is really softening hearts, in spite of all appearance to the contrary, and the fruit is only seen much later.
It seems to me, though, that an eloquent silence can often soften such hearts much more effectively than a verbal response—you know, like at the end of "The Grand Inquisitor." Any words could just be twisted to reinforce their trip.