Alison Wood Brooks

They were highly coveted invitations to Kant's house for these dinner parties. What I found so fascinating to read about and learn is that his dinner parties had all these rules of conversation. So he almost was kind of acting like this little king in his kingdom. And his rules were, we're going to talk about specific topics at the beginning.

We're going to talk about specific topics in the middle. Then we're going to joke at the end. We're going to have food and wine that mirrors each of the phases of the meal. I want to go to this.

We're going to talk about specific topics in the middle. Then we're going to joke at the end. We're going to have food and wine that mirrors each of the phases of the meal. I want to go to this.

We're going to talk about specific topics in the middle. Then we're going to joke at the end. We're going to have food and wine that mirrors each of the phases of the meal. I want to go to this.

So surprisingly, he didn't like debate. He didn't really like when people argued about stuff, especially about the French Revolution. He was like, this is for us to have fun and learn from each other. And it should feel delightful the whole time.

So surprisingly, he didn't like debate. He didn't really like when people argued about stuff, especially about the French Revolution. He was like, this is for us to have fun and learn from each other. And it should feel delightful the whole time.

So surprisingly, he didn't like debate. He didn't really like when people argued about stuff, especially about the French Revolution. He was like, this is for us to have fun and learn from each other. And it should feel delightful the whole time.

Exactly. And so that was sort of the beginning of it. During the age of conversation, this idea was cropping up all over Europe. There were all these philosophers who were pontificating about what it meant to have good, sparkling conversation. It was sort of subversive because it was the first time that they weren't just doing what the king or queen told them to do.

Exactly. And so that was sort of the beginning of it. During the age of conversation, this idea was cropping up all over Europe. There were all these philosophers who were pontificating about what it meant to have good, sparkling conversation. It was sort of subversive because it was the first time that they weren't just doing what the king or queen told them to do.

Exactly. And so that was sort of the beginning of it. During the age of conversation, this idea was cropping up all over Europe. There were all these philosophers who were pontificating about what it meant to have good, sparkling conversation. It was sort of subversive because it was the first time that they weren't just doing what the king or queen told them to do.

And then the industrial revolution happened and people started mixing a lot more. We're not just talking about highfalutin philosophers getting their fancy friends together. People are going everywhere all the time. You never know who you're going to run into in all classes and all status. So we need to now figure out what are we talking about? How are we talking?

And then the industrial revolution happened and people started mixing a lot more. We're not just talking about highfalutin philosophers getting their fancy friends together. People are going everywhere all the time. You never know who you're going to run into in all classes and all status. So we need to now figure out what are we talking about? How are we talking?

And then the industrial revolution happened and people started mixing a lot more. We're not just talking about highfalutin philosophers getting their fancy friends together. People are going everywhere all the time. You never know who you're going to run into in all classes and all status. So we need to now figure out what are we talking about? How are we talking?

What are the new rules of conversation?

What are the new rules of conversation?

What are the new rules of conversation?

And you're going to see them on the road as you're walking past and you're allowed to greet each other. If you say hi, what are you going to say? Can you even tell who's who anymore? Right. And I love that.

And you're going to see them on the road as you're walking past and you're allowed to greet each other. If you say hi, what are you going to say? Can you even tell who's who anymore? Right. And I love that.

And you're going to see them on the road as you're walking past and you're allowed to greet each other. If you say hi, what are you going to say? Can you even tell who's who anymore? Right. And I love that.

Yes. So fast forward. So all of this mixing is happening. The big experiment in democracy is happening in America. All the Europeans think that Americans are no good at conversation. We're talking about ourselves all the time. We spit while they're talking. I mean, there's all kinds of stereotypes developing.