Modern Rhetoric
- Details
- Hits: 11992
Modern Rhetoric
Weaver’s conception of rhetoric is partly based on a careful analysis of the American 19th Century orators. Among the orations he analyzes is the sale of public lands by Andrew Ewing, agrarian virtues of agricultural fair at Virginia by Charles Faulkner and move of the Senate from an old to a new chamber by John Breckinridge. All the orations are little known. Nevertheless, Lincoln’s inaugurals and Gettysburg Address are well-known rhetoric he discusses. Weaver believes rhetoric has immense power, and nothing prudent occurs without rhetoric because it leads every action and thought of intelligent people.
Rhetoric is an art, according to Weaver. It is the use of words and images purposefully to convince, cajole, persuade, move, exhort, and bless. It is through this art that things in society are done. The art involves discourse and argumentation. People speak or write in a bid to convince others of what they believe, and can be viewed as "rhetoric." The act of analyzing how rhetoric works is also an art and people who do such analyze "rhetoricians." Weaver recommended that, as an art, studies of rhetoric should be incorporated in modern studies as an integral part of an education in liberal arts (Bizzell & Herzberg 158).
Rhetoric as an art uses language. It may involve investigating how language can be used to mediate power, maintain social groups, coordinate behavior, produce change, create knowledge, and construct meanings and identities. Weaver’s conception of rhetoric holds the assumption that language can be shaped by rhetoric. The term he uses to describe the nature of rhetoric is ‘constitutive’. In addition, language does not exist in isolation; it shares a territory with the self and others. Weaver uses the term ‘dialogic’ to describe the nature. Weaver considers rhetoric as being connected closely to the thought as ‘inner speech’ while remaining integrated with social, economic, and cultural practices.
The association of language to rhetoric, claims Weaver, strongly supports the idea that rhetoric is an art. In fact, language itself came purely because of rhetorical arts. Having the power to discover something that impresses and works, and then make it operative is being rhetorical. In addition, this is the essence of any language. However, language, like rhetoric, is based upon truth as well as the essence of all things. Weaver believes an individual can persuade anyone only insofar as he or she can talk the other person’s language, whether by speech, tonality, order, gesture, image, idea, or attitude. The only essential is identifying one’s ways with those of the person to be persuaded. Persuasion is an art and is central to rhetoric. It will only work once the parties in question recognize they have a common ground among them (Bizzell & Herzberg 158).
As far as the relationship between truth and virtue is concerned, Weaver does not have kind words to describe rhetoric. Rhetoric, he claims, is merely the art where people persuade others through writing and speaking effectively. To most people in the modern society, the term ‘rhetoric’ carries a pejorative meaning. It is the manipulation of truth. Intelligent people who are also virtuous associate rhetoric with an extremely fastidious issue believed to be about how someone says things and what he or she says. During Weaver’s time, politicians would use rhetoric to make empty promises as well as half-truths, which was a dreaded kind of propaganda. Weaver concedes learning rhetoric in the ancient times was quite a noble pursuit, and an essential of well-rounded studies. Overall, rhetoric has been a vital tool, which can be used to teach truth effectively. Additionally, an intelligent person can use it as a protective weapon against people who may argue selfishly with nefarious intentions. Such application of rhetoric, however, requires an individual to be fully cognizant of any techniques and tactics that may be used on him or her to facilitate the discernment of truth from opinions.
Rhetoric has an extremely important role in politics and life in general. Weaver, specifically, has described rhetorical study, as essential to civic and political issues, academic, and professional life. In fact, rhetoric first came up a millennium ago as a study into various forms of argument and communication essential to legal and political life in Greece. With time, the art has evolved to a diverse and rich body of texts, pedagogies, and research. However, much of the rhetoric surrounding politics is on how to win elections. Weaver concedes that agon, a term connoting public space where political debates were held, suggested opposition and fighting in Ancient Greek culture. Surprisingly, this legacy is deeply reinforced in negative political campaigns and political debates, which focus on attacking those in the opposition. Considering the nature of the modern electoral process, where only one person wins while the others lose the election, such an antagonism is extremely disheartening.
The application of rhetoric in politics with which Weaver does not come to terms is the desire for many people, especially political aspirants, to identify with one another. Such people do not remember to allocate a neutral or common ground with their shared enemy. The form of the political climate has been represented by Nicholas Kristof‘s comments. Kristof is a writer with New York Times. If there lacks a neutral ground, it becomes difficult for rhetoric to execute its social work. Individuals in politics may lose compassion and civility when they do not recognize the existence of such common ground (Bizzell & Herzberg 158).
In life, generally, rhetoric enables us to convince and persuade others, acts believed to distinguish the way of life of human beings from that of animals. When human beings use rhetoric, they become clear to themselves and to others. By so doing, they have been able to co-exist, make laws, build cities, and invent other arts. Speech has been singled out as the prerequisite for virtually all human inventions. Rhetoric has legislated on matters of injustice and beauty; without such laws, human beings could not coexist in society. The act of praising the good and refuting the bad is a product of rhetoric. It is through it that the ignorant get an education to enable them recognize intelligent individuals in society.
Speaking well, which is merely rhetoric, is the clearest sign that one’s mind is bright because speaking well reflects lawfulness and truthfulness, which are images of a faithful soul. Rhetoric in general life helps the investigation of the unknown, which prevents fights that may occur over petty, contentious matters. Weaver has realized people use arguments to persuade other people in their own deliberations. Only individuals known to have sound advice are called to give speeches in crowd "rhetorical". The people have often been seen debating with themselves skillfully on public affairs (Bizzell & Herzberg 158).
Historical and/or cultural factors relating to rhetoric abound. Rhetoric is complex as a discipline and has a long history. The definition alone has evolved over time. Consequently, it is futile to try to come up with a widely acceptable definition for the last time. Looking at the numerous definitions the concept has accumulated over time and to attempting to comprehend how each term came about and how each is still relevant is not helpful either. Homogeneity of belief is an important historical factor. Weaver talks about the constitution and belief that history has definitive political lessons. While morality and freedom were constant, the codification of politically feasible ideas was the constitution. At the time Weaver was encoding his conception of rhetoric, Rome was an exemplum of things that might happen to other nations. Weaver’s mention of common conviction is paradoxical. The conviction limits political and moral choices radically. Yet the Constitution—the very form of limit also protects against the lower nature. Cultural factors relating to rhetoric are complex. Weaver views rhetoric as being founded in culture, just as culture has long been considered to be founded in rhetoric. Rhetoric, therefore, is an integral part of all cultural affairs whether religious, poetic, or civic.
In conclusion, Weaver considers rhetoric as a liberal art with principles whose application must be done in a flexible manner, which depends on how the speaker relates to the audience, as well as on the content and occasion. Rhetoric plays many roles, but importantly, it comes in handy whenever people seek to communicate the truth. Additionally, Weaver stresses that rhetoric has a power that can be used either properly or maliciously.