ABSTRACT
This chapter suggests that John Dewey concerns strengthening the public sphere resonates with Hannah Arendt's call for freedom through action. Action for Arendt happens whenever ordinary citizens come together to openly deliberate issues of public concern taking into consideration all different standpoints. Dewey's emphasis on the scientific method' strikes them, at first sight in any case, to not chime easily with Arendt's concept of action, which is based on a practical rationality. Recognising plurality would mean that professionals recognise their social interconnectedness with other members of the community; the importance of integrating their individual goals and those of their professional group with those of their larger community and the existence of multiple perspectives on the same issues. Finally, when professional practice takes on the form of action, practitioners recognise the conditions of natality and plurality of our communities and participate with other community members in democratic discussions around how best to frame and address concerns affecting society's welfare.
