Norms of Rhetorical Culture

Norms of Rhetorical Culture by Farrell, Mr. Thomas B.. hardcover edition. ISBN: 9780300053852.

Rhetoric is widely regarded by both its detractors and advocates as a kind of antithesis to reason. In this book Thomas B. Farrell restores rhetoric as an art of practical reason and enlightened civic participation, grounding it in its classical tradition - particularly in the rhetoric of Aristotle. Farrell also offers a critique of the dominant currents of modern humanist thought, which bear principal responsibility for the disparagement of the rhetorical tradition. Farrell argues that rhetoric is not antithetical to reason but is a manner of posing and answering questions that is distinct from the approaches of analytic and dialectical reason. He develops this position in a number of ways: through a series of bold reinterpretations of Aristotles Rhetoric; through a detailed appraisal of traditional rhetorical concepts as seen in modern texts from the Army-McCarthy hearings to Edward Kennedys memorial for his brother, Mario Cuomos address on abortion, Betty Friedans Feminine Mystique, and Vaclav Havels inaugural address; and, through a fresh appraisal of theories on the character of language and discourse found in contemporary philosophy, literary criticism, anthropology, deconstructionism, Marxism, and especially in Haberinass critical theory of communicative action.