Norms of Rhetorical Culture

by Thomas B. Farrell

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. And, because prevailing modernist world views bear principal responsibility for the disparagement of rhetorical tradition, Farrell also offers a critique of the dominant currents of modern humanist thought.

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 through a series of bold reinterpretations of Aristotle's Rhetoric ; through a detailed appraisal of traditional rhetorical concepts as seen in modern texts from the Army-McCarthy hearings to Edward Kennedy's memorial for his brother, Mario Cuomo's address on abortion, Betty Friedan's Feminine Mystique , and Vaclav Havel's 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 Habermas's critical theory of communicative action.

Genres: Philosophy

385 pages, Paperback

First published October 27, 1993

Reviews

[Zachary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even with a relatively extensive background in rhetoric, this was kind of a tricky book. Farrell does a wonderful job, for the most part, maintaining a welcoming and interesting style even as he delves into a lot of highly specialized argumentation surrounding the way that rhetoric functions in culture today. Most of the early chapters are especially readable and have a lot of practical things to say that are easily identifiable as takeaways to be applied. As the book goes on it definitely seemed, to me, to dig deeper into specialist theoretical concerns that certainly followed understandably and naturally from the earlier chapters, but which were nonetheless more difficult to get a comprehensive handle on. The examples that Farrell uses throughout the book are all incredibly interesting, though, and he does a wonderful job showcasing their importance, even if some of the later arguments (and those dealing with Habermas) were at times a bit much for me. For being a book heavy on theory, I was very pleasantly surprised with how much I enjoyed my time engaging in this work and parsing my way through it.

[Michael Greer · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the most engaging works produced in the study of human rhetoric. What makes the book worth returning to again and again is the way in which rhetoric is brought into a new context, the pressing issues of the modern world reveal how being rhetorical is not something that belongs only to orators, pastors, or lawyers. Clearly there are professions that rely on the art of public speaking. But we are always also an audience in those events and we have responsibilities that belong to that position.

Rhetoric as a Mode of Inquiry-it's not so much what someone has to say as the manner, shape and form of the saying. This makes all messaging open for inspection, looking at the possibilities for being civically engaged.

The Role of Practical Reason-what is common sense today?

Public Character-what are the common expectations when meeting in the public forum?

Pragmatics and Practical Reason-how the modern world has avoided its own rhetorical complexion.

The Episodes of Public Life- how to detect the enthymeme

How to bring rhetoric back from the traditionalists- why Aristotle is not enough today