When it leads to consensus. That’s one of Figaro’s favorite words. It comes from the Latin, meaning “common belief” or “knowing together.” In other words, it means agreement.
The adjectival form, consensual, gets sexy. It means an agreed-upon act. Rhetoric teaches that to get all consensual, it helps to get the juices flowing with a little seduction.
In our sister site, ArgueLab, Christina Fox shows how seduction and argument are kissing cousins.