Discurssi

Discurssi is a hypothetical framework for structured online discourse designed to improve the quality, civility, and traceability of collective discussions. It articulates how participants should contribute, how arguments are organized, and how disputes are resolved.

The name suggests a blend of discourse and a Latin-root concept, though the term is not widely standardized in any discipline. In discussions about online deliberation, Discurssi is used to denote a modular approach rather than a single, fixed protocol.

As a concept, Discurssi has emerged in theoretical debates on moderation, argument mapping, and evidence-based dialogue. It is often described as a framework rather than a fully implemented system, intended to guide how discussions are structured and evaluated.

A typical Discurssi protocol would employ an argument graph, citations and evidence tagging, turn-taking rules, moderation workflows, and reputation signals. It emphasizes transparent justification, traceable rebuttals, and mechanisms to pause, reframe, or escalate disputes. The goal is to make reasoning visible and to reduce rhetorical spirals that derail conversations.

In hypothetical practice, it could be applied to online forums, educational platforms, and collaborative research spaces to structure debates, annotate claims, and document resolutions. It offers a way to map complex exchanges and to archive decisions for future reference.

Supporters argue that it improves clarity, accountability, and collaborative decision-making, while critics warn of potential complexity, bias in moderation, and barriers to accessibility. See also: discourse analysis, argumentation theory, deliberative democracy, argument mapping.