Abstract

Despite the emphasis on involvement and service, our dominant American culture and language of individualism continue to logically create a populace who are concerned with their own immediate needs and special interests. Our dominant culture creates a lifestyle that distinctly separates public from private life. Yet there is a growing cry from the people for community and a sense of meaning, a cry which cannot be answered or attended to within the language of individualism. The challenge for the American public is to rediscover and renew traditions and language that honor a civic and communal life. ;Within this research, I investigated the interrelationship of culture, language and tradition in the creation of community and the search for meaning. The discussion of community in this research project is based upon a critical hermeneutic theory within a participatory model. The research is participatory, seeking to generate knowledge and understanding through conversation rather than define or describe a fixed set of realities. The discussion of community and the goal of this project was to create a context out of which community members could bring forth a world through the reappropriation of traditions and language that seeks authentic community. ;Three primary philosophical concepts directed the research: fusion of horizons as developed by H. G. Gadamer; personal and institutional narrative as put forth by Paul Ricoeur and the linguistic nature of social reality as explored by Maturana and Varela. These three concepts present a way of understanding that is rooted in the community as the primary unit of meaning over and above the individual. ;As participants entered into the conversations oriented toward reaching understanding, a common language and meaning was formed within the relationship of the members and not within the individual herself. This language, created within the communicative interaction, became grounded in a historical consciousness as participants shared their personal and institutional narrative. The language of community bound the members to one another within an ethical imperative that directed their actions. Community became the unfolding of our lives together within an ethical domain grounded in shared history and traditions. ;It became apparent that individuals, engaged in conversations oriented toward understanding, are better able to struggle with the pressing issues and needs of the society. Through this orientation, community members are able to arrive at ways to meaningfully integrate necessary changes into their lives to bring about transformation and a common good