Dr. Katherine HeenanEnglish 472Spring 2007Herrick NotesHerrick, James. A History and Theory of Rhetoric: An Introduction. 3rd edition. New York: Allyn and Bacon, 2005Chapter One notesAn Overview of Rhetoric - Notes the resurgence in interest of rhetoric—after years of being pushed out of the curriculum, the study of rhetoric and its history is once again a focus- Cites Plato’s Gorgias as a critique of rhetoric- Locke’s assertion that rhetoric insinuates wrong ideas, moves the passions, etc and so is not necessary if we “speak of things as they are.” o This concept is one Swift parodies in Gulliver’s Travels when he discusses scientists walking about carrying objects with which they communicate. Gulliver's Travels is shown to be a coherent critique of eighteenth-century ideas of science,education and politics in which the order of the books ('the progress of the fable') is highly significant for its whole meaning. his portrait of the disagreeable and self-centered Laputans, who show blatant contempt for those who are not sunk inprivate theorizing, is a clear satire against those who pride themselves on knowledge above all else. Practical knowledge is also satirized when it does not produce results, as in the academy of Balnibarbi, where the experiments for extracting sunbeams from cucumbers amount to nothing. Swift insists that there is a realm of understanding into which humans are simply not supposed to venture. Thus his depictions of rational societies, like Brobdingnag and Houyhnhnmland, emphasize not these people’s knowledge or understanding of abstract ideas but their ability to live their lives in a wise and steady way.- notes McKeon’s architechtonics—rhetoric organizes and gives structure to other arts and disciplines and so is a kind of master discipline that exercises a measure of control over all othersRhetoric and Persuasion- rhetoric has traditionally been associated with persuasion—and is closely concerned with gaining consensus—he says compliance, but I prefer consensus—and suggests this is why it has a bad rap. - I see rhetoric’s relationship to persuasion in the way the ancients used rhetoric—to make decisions, resolve disputes, and to mediate public discussions of important issues- rhetoric helps people choose the best course of action when they disagree about important political, religious, or social issues- in this way, the study of rhetoric is/ought to be a part of the study of citizenship- disagreement among humans beings is inevitable because individuals perceive the world differently from one another. - people also differ in their opinions about how the world works- but the fact that rhetoric orginiates in disagreement is a good thing since its use allows peopleto make important choices without resorting to less palatable means of persuasion—like coerion or violence.- consider, for instance, if the folks who negotiate international relations were to stop using rhetoric to resolve disagreements about say, nukes.Offers Various Definitions- MurphyHeenanHerrick Ch 1 notes- Kennedy- me—discourse that moves an audience in/to thought, action, attitude- marks or characteristics of rhetorical discourse 1. is planned –notes the 5 canons of rhetoric on page 82. adapted to an audience 3. reveals human motives 4. is responsive 5. seeks persuasion 6. addresses contingent issues - specific resources of symbols under the heading, Rhetoric seeks persuasion 1. argument 2. appeals 3. arrangement 4. aesthetics - social functions of the art of rhetoric 1. rhetoric tests ideas 2. rhetoric assists advocacy 3. rhetoric distributes power 4. rhetoric discovers facts 5. rhetoric shapes knowledge 6. rhetoric builds community important to note here the distinction between philosophy and rhetoric—philo seeks truth and makes judgements; rhetoric does not do so in the same way (see p. 16-17)- three types of power enhanced by an understanding of the art of rhetoric 1. personal power 2. psychological power 3. political power- rhetoric addresses contingent issues Rhetoric is employed to resolve practical questions about matters that confront everyone and about which there are no definite or unavoidable answers. Terminology 1. ideology:A system of belief, or a framework for interpreting the world. 2. Symbol: Any mark, sign, sound or gesture that communicates meaning based on social agreement3. Rhetoric: The systematic study and intentional practice of effective symbolic expression. 4. Argument: A conclusion supported by reasons. Reasoning made public withthe goal of influencing an audience 5. Arrangement: Planned ordering of a message to achieve the greatest persuasive effect