The Gad Circle©

The Gad Circle© 

This is a new form of discussion group that brings together a world of things we might already know quite well.  

 What is a   Gad Circle©?

A Gad Circle [1.0]© starts out as a safe place where we learn to listen and learn to speak.  We wander together in conversation, look at different subjects, and share our perspective in a respectful, equal, diverse setting.  We share our horizon with others.  A horizon is a term that assumes our point of view has limits (we can only see up to the horizon around us)

    Merriam-Webster says: to Gad about is to be on the go without a specific aim or purpose.

It is hoped that the Gad Circle will grow and develop (from 1.0 to 2.0) to a place where we can be open to the possibility that the other may be right... or have a better perspective... or contribute something to our perspective.  A Gad Circle [2.0]© invites questions and challenge to our limited perspectives.  This can be achieved after a level of trust is established.

    Merriam-Webster also says: a gad is a chisel or pointed iron or steel bar for loosening ore or rock.

It is hoped that the Gad Circle will ultimately help you grow, open up new areas of thinking, and lead to a broader, healthier ability to understand and relate to the people and world around you.  There is a challenge here.  It can be disorienting to see ways that your perspective needs to be revised or corrected.  When you achieve a Gad Circle [2.0] you are open to seeing concrete ways not only your perspective needs revising but your life practice needs a bit of changing.  Remember that you are not the only one whose perspective is limited - the others in your group need your perspective - because there are likely ways that your perspective can correct their understanding.

The main reason we adopted the name "Gad Circle" is because it seeks to practice many of the insights of Hans-Georg Gadamer - a philosopher who developed the art of interpretation and a field called Philosophical Hermeneutics.  We want to start a discussion circle Gadamer would be proud of.  We invite him into the coffee shops where we practice his insights into the way people understand and relate to one another.  

How do we do a Gad Circle in the hear-and-now?

Here are David's top 11 [1.0].  

Here are 11 Principles for a Gad Circle [1.0] to follow (some might call them the rules of engagement).  We commit to demonstrating:

1) Mutual respect

2) The equality of all

3) The value of diversity x2 x2 (Diversity of person, culture, and perspective)

4) To be human is to be limited in perspective

5) We listen to understand

6) We are open to learning

7) We don't try to win, fight, attack (instead we cradle "deep values" - Handle them with care)

8) We use "I" statements from our perspective (not manipulating with an agenda)

9) Thoughtfulness about how we speak, not just what we speak

10) We learn to listen / learn to speak

11) You have a valuable perspective and voice.

As we wander in Gad Circle conversations, the hope is that the Gad Circle [1.0] will create a level of belonging and participation.  It needs to be a safe place if people want to learn to listen and speak.  It is also hoped that your circle will grow into a Gad Circle [2.0]

David's Top 12 for Gad Circle [2.0]

Here are 12 Principles for Gad Circle [2.0] members to follow (some might call them the rules of engagement).  They take the principles of Gad Circle [1.0] and deepen them based on the perspective of Gadamer.

1) Mutual respect involves taking the perspective of others seriously, letting them challenge you.  

2) Equality of person impacts everything we do.  For this reason it is valuable to give people equal opportunity to speak.  This does not mean that all views are equal.  Some views might prove to be deeper, more coherent, or more true.

3) The diversity of person, culture, and perspective invites us to work to bridge the gap between differences being shared.  At times one must move beyond their assumptions (also called their pre-judgements), and work to understand what a person means from their perspective.  At this level of sharing we also want to move beyond coexisting and collecting various view points - toward interacting, cross-pollinating, enriching and diversifying one another.  There might be instances when the different horizons (the perspectives we share) can experience a fusion - where the truthfulness of another perspective fuses together with our perspective.

4) To be human is to be limited in perspective.  This level of sharing brings us to the limits of our perspective [horizon] and potentially expands them.  There are several ways our perspective is limited.  We only see a small slice of the world.  We have a small individual, human view of the world around us.  We are also limited by our past experience, upbringing, culture, traditions etc. which creates different expectations, priorities, or warnings regarding the people and ideas we interact with.  As we are aware of our roots, we can get a better understanding of the life we live.

5) We listen in order to understand.  Sometimes we will need to restrain or even fight ourselves from jumping to hasty conclusions.  We will need to work to move beyond an initial 'gut' reaction to hear more clearly what is being said.  The goal is to understand well enough to validate what you are hearing (so the other person can say: "Yes, you understand my perspective").  This is the process of looking beyond pre-judging to what the other is actually saying.  This corrects and revises our pre-judging to be better in line with reality.  [A future post will explain Gadamer's Hermeneutical Circle]

6) We are open to learn and be wrong.  We accept vulnerability and being questioned by others.  We're open to having our views enlarged.  This is risky.  We might leave the coffee shop with a new perspective!

7) Don't try to win an argument or fight others, but don't shy away from tension, challenge, difficult questions.  "Challenge ideas honestly, but don't treat people as enemies."  This goes along with the need to cradle deep values.  When someone deeply holds a value, faith, or belief - we need to demonstrate extra care and compassion - especially when questioning these things.

8) Make 'I' statements from your perspective.  Share experience without pointing a finger judgmentally.  At the same time, seek to move the conversation from expressing your private views toward contributing to a more shared perspective.

9) Think about how you share something, not just what you share.  Healthy postures include things like: humility, openness, compassion, curiosity, adventure, courage, honesty and patience.

10) Learn to listen and learn to speak.  Both of these sides of a conversation are essential.  They build a dialogue, discourse, and perhaps synergy or a dialectic

11) You have a valuable perspective and voice (don't underestimate yourself).  Your voice may reveal something that the rest can't see yet.

12) Let the subject matter and shared conversation lead.  Don't be afraid to lose yourself in the back-and-forth play of a shared, evolving conversation.  

[The Gad Circle as well as the 12 rules for our Gad Circle [2.0] were developed in conversation with ChatGPT, an AI tool by Open AI on April 10, 2026.  The idea for a Gad Circle was something David developed many years ago - growing out of his personal study of Hans-Georg Gadamer's book: Truth and Method]

Here is a link to the AI version I use:    Chat GPT