Some of the visitors of this blog have shown, whether in personal dialogue with me or through comment on it, their misunderstanding about the title is headed. Since this is not casual or capricious, but was chosen deliberately, and after some reflection to reflect the spirit, intentions and goals of our space, it seems appropriate to clarify something.
The most common misunderstanding, that I will not deny that I find somewhat annoying although understandable, is to identify the title with the famous film by Alejandro Amenabar. I suspect there are few people who have discovered the term "agora" from the aforementioned film, and therefore it is inevitable that it relates only to this. To increase the ambiguity, the birth of this blog coincided in time with the premiere of the film in question.
I must say that in deciding the name you give the blog is not missed me above, and even I considered giving up the title that now has to avoid such identification. However, he finally concluded that I did not need me to be influenced by such a fortuitous circumstance.
Obviously, palabla agora has not invented or discovered Amenábar. It is a term that has become commonplace in the field of philosophy because of its connotations, which are precisely what led me to choose it. And later explain what they mean. In fact, the web pages dedicated to the philosophy or the like that include that word in their title are numerous.
actually inspired the title of the blog itself is cinematic, but it is far from Amenábar. Having decided that I would use the concept of "agora", I shrugged decide through which expression or formula would do it. Resonance is actually in the movie by Gus Van Sant My Own Private Idaho (1991), released in Spain as My Own Private Idaho but the original title I always thought it would have been more accurate to translate as "my Idaho particular "(a term which combine the meanings of" own ", own , and "private" private ). Is a reference too "private" to expect anyone to grasp, but neither was this the intention.
What, then, an agora? (And, as we are for clarification, pointing out that the word is feminine even if preceded by masculine article, just like other feminine nouns that begin with "a" tonic).
The agora was the vital center of the Greek polis. Materially, consisted of a large square in which stood the most important buildings, administrative offices and the headquarters for the assembly of citizens who debated and voted on the policy of the city. It was the quintessential public place, where focused, therefore, public life, from political and administrative activities to commercial activities. And what really concerns us here, this was a meeting place, common space for all citizens (the restricted category, in antiquity, to a very limited number of individuals, on the other hand). And, to that extent, a space for dialogue, for the exhibition and exchange of ideas and opinions. The place where Socrates surely haunted (in a dialectical sense, by course) to the sophists and Plato walked along with his disciple Aristotle holding discussions whose content, unfortunately, do not ever know.
And hence, ultimately, why such a name for this blog. Because of the hope, vain hope not, that also can be considered a space, albeit virtual, for dialogue, confrontation of views, sharing of views. Where anyone can express themselves freely with the only limit unavoidable but respect for people (not their ideas.) And whose host can ensure that there is a dose of hemlock reserved for those who dare "Not to recognize the gods of the city."
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