13th December: Anna Klieber

Silent dogwhistles

Wednesday 13th December 2023

Dr Anna Klieber, Cardiff University

With online response from Professor Adam Jaworski, Emeritus Professor, The University of Hong Kong

12.10pm in Room 3.58 of the John Percival Building on Colum Drive. or online via Zoom.

Abstract: In philosophy, political dogwhistles are usually explored with a focus on manipulative and corrupting speech – how certain phrases or words can be used to consciously or unconsciously influence audiences or audience-subsets. In this paper, I argue that not just words, but also acts of remaining silent can function in similar ways to the spoken dogwhistles that have so far been the main focus of philosophical discussions. By discussing a range of examples, I want to show that silences can function as intentional and unintentional overt code dogwhistles. By highlighting some politically important features of silence as a communicative tool in and of itself, this discussion will open up a new dimension to the analysis of dogwhistles on the one hand, and political speech on the other.

This session comprises a short introduction to the speaker, the talk of around 35 minutes and a response from the invited respondent of around 15 minutes.
Although our Wednesday sessions often end at 1pm, this session is scheduled to conclude by 1.30pm. This allows time for our speaker and respondent and for post-talk and response discussion.

This seminar will be hybrid although Anna will be present and we encourage in-person attendance in Room 3.58 of the John Percival Building. To join online click here.