Our disability is discursive: we simply do not know how to…
““Our disability is discursive: we simply do not know how to talk about these things any more. For the last thirty years, when asking ourselves whether we support a policy, a proposal or an initiative, we have restricted ourselves to issues of profit and loss - economic questions in the narrowest sense. But this is not an instinctive human condition: it is an acquired taste.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
We have lost the language to discuss issues beyond economics, treating policy as purely profit‑driven, which limits moral imagination.
In simple terms: We only talk about profit, ignoring deeper values.
Key Takeaway
Expand discourse beyond economics.
Themes
politics
ethics
communication
Mood
reflective
critical
Type
analytical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- government budgeting
- environmental legislation
- social welfare debates
- corporate responsibility
Key Concepts
public sphere
moral imagination
policy analysis
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we re‑introduce ethical language into policy?
- What values are missing from current debates?
A Different Perspective
Economic focus can overlook justice and human dignity.