The Torontoic Dialogues

Abstract

Philosophical prose has a long-standing tradition in both Eastern and Western cultures. With the emergence of Zen and Platonic dialogues, writers throughout history have used non-fiction to portray the nuances of human experience. This approach has the capacity to bring ideas to life and facilitate new ways of thinking about the world around us. Following these traditions, this experimental piece provides an autobiographical retelling of philosophical discussions between neurodivergent students in Toronto, Canada. During their conversation, the characters spend considerable time analyzing complex social and political topics, with careful attention being given to personal responsibility and the distinction between thoughts and actions. Travelling through the busy streets of modern life, the narrator eventually has a revelatory moment with a stranger that disrupts his tendency to live inside his head and overintellectualize.