Rhetoric
The Sophists claimed human excellence is no accident of fate or the priviledge of a noble birth, but an art or technique that could be taught or learned. They argued further morality, or immorality, could not be judged outside of the cultural context it was in. The well-known phrase,
“Man is the measure of all things”
comes from this belief.
Isocrates believed practice in public speaking about noble things and important questions would improve the character of the speaker and the audience while best serving the public.
Quintilian describes, not just rhetoric, but forming the perfect orator; a politically active, virtuous, public-minded citizen. Rhetoric became culturally vibrant and an important kind of entertainment.
Cultural criticism in a movement called “the second sophistic” charged rhetoric teachers were emphasizing style over substance.
Rhetoric, as civic art, claims the power to shape communities, form citizen character and impact civic life.
Cicero believed the tools of rhetoric, put into the hands of the right people, could be used to save the republic.
Augustine believed liberal arts study contributed to rhetorical study, to develop a keen and ardent nature fine words come more readily by reading and hearing eloquent speech than pursuing the rules of rhetoric.
Robert L. Scott argues truth is not a central, objective set of facts. Truth is based on the situation at hand. Scott extends the pursuit and argument for an ultimate truth ' fooling' yourself, choosing one argument among many. Ultimately, truth is relative to the situation, rhetoric gives meaning to individual circumstances.
A division, strongly associated with enlightenment thinking, tried to make language a neutral and transparent medium.
Brummett points out “ a worldview, with truth in agreement, must have rhetoric, at heart. Agreement is found no other way".
Wikipedia
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment