Norms of Rhetorical Culture

In this gracefully written 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 the rhetorical tradition, Farrell also offers a critique of the dominant currents of modern humanist thought, as seen in modern texts from works by Habermas to Václav Havel's inaugural address. "A distinguished treatise on the interface of philosophy, rhetoric, and communication. This is the most comprehensive, scholarly, and discerning discussion of the issues that lie at the crossroads of the philosophical and rhetorical disciplines that I have seen."-Calvin Schrag, Purdue University "A magnificent study that addresses the significant developments marking the contemporary landscape of rhetorical thought and offers a fresh and important analysis in an accessible style."-Gerard A. Hauser, University of Colorado "This book is a brilliant reconsideration of Aristotle's rhetorical theory as an orientation to contemporary practice. Thomas Farrell provides a well-crafted argument in lucid prose. . . . As provocative as it is refreshing."-Raymie E. McKerrow, Quarterly Journal of Speech