Ten Precepts of Dialogue: Philosophy and Communication: The Tools of Constructive Discourse (The Way Things Are)

Charles Hoppins is a semi-retired journalist with a passion for philosophy enhanced by formal graduate study and a lot of research. He has worked for The Associated Press and a number of newspapers as writer, assistant city editor, state editor and wire editor. Troubled by the lack of time to do serious in-depth reporting on a number of stories, he conceived of the idea of a research institution that would have the funding and ability to cover stories that would otherwise not see the light of day. In 1987, he was a principle in the founding of Western Research Institute (WRI). From its inception WRI set out to do in-depth reporting on a number of issues. It has published reports and books on technology, law, government, philosophy and communication. For the past number of years he has been involved in the study of the prevalence of certain philosophical positions and how those positions affect society, human behavior and public policy. He has completed a number of books on the results, the last involving precepts of dialogue and general principles of communication. Further outcome of these studies, is the publication of Rules for Public Discourse, on how to hold lawmakers, candidates for public office and others accountable for what they say for public consumption. The WRI web site is at www.wrii.org.