[MD] "Beyond Rhetorical Theory."

[Kevin Perez]

Another from George L. Pullman.
 
Now to be taken for a long walk by the dog...and contemplate.
 
Enjoy.
 

Kevin
 

"Beyond Rhetorical Theory."
 
Abstract:
 
     If the idea is true that a theory is an abstract model that explains an
     objective phenomenon, where objective means anything that exists
     independent of individual human volition, then the best known
     example of such a rhetorical theory would be Lloyd Bitzer's famous
     rhetorical situation. Bitzer has argued that a rhetorical act comes
     into being when people respond in words to objectively recognizable
     structures which he calls exigencies. Exigencies are the critical
     moments in civic life when something needs to be said in order to do
     something that needs to be done. Bitzer, in effect, offers a rhetorical
     theory that is based on a stipulative definition of rhetoric. Thus, there
     is a secure definition of rhetoric and therefore a secure rhetorical
     theory. Bitzer invoked the long-standing presumption of the division
     between theory and practice which can be traced to Aristotle and
     Cicero. Plato left rhetoricians with the impression that if they are
     going to teach something, they have to break it down into first
     principles, because rational discourse needs valid definition.
     However, despite what tradition has taught, rhetorical theory cannot
     be separated from rhetorical practice, and the situation
     (institutionalized theorization) that brings rhetorical theory about is
     the rhetorical tradition itself. Thus, Bitzer's theory is a part of a
     rhetorical situation from the start. Therefore, the hope of a rhetorical
     theory in the sense of a disinterested description needs to be
     abandoned.
 
Full text:  http://eric.ed.gov/ERICDocs/data/ericdocs2/content_storage_01/0000000b/80/27/02/a8.pdf

 
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