Chapter 2: This is not a Dinner: Metacommunication in Family Dinnertime Conversations

The short conversation quoted above is part of Bateson's (1972)metalogues, a special kind of discussion on different domains formatted like ancient Greek philosophical dialogues; like the latter, participants of metalogues argue about relevant topics while discussing the very same logical premises of their reasoning and the solutions at which they gradually arrive.

Throughout his metalogues Bateson performs the role of the maieuta, who prompts the novice—here, his young daughter—to pose questions and find answers by herself, learning from setting the problems and acknowledging points of self-contradiction and paradox. He thus guides the interlocutor (be she the partner of an occurring interaction or that of an inner dialogue with herself) to reflexively be attentive and gain understanding about the activity of arguing, meanwhile she is engaged in the dialogue.