For those PHC students who wish to get an early start
2015 January 3 by Dr. Tallmon
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Greetings! The bulk of our online discussions in Rhetoric class will revolve around five of the essays found here: Weaver’s Top Ten
If you’d like to make an early start, try reading “Education and the Individual” and “The Image of Culture.” We can certainly get started here, at RhetoricRing.com, discussing the brilliance of Richard M. Weaver (one of the fathers of American philosophic conservatism.) Why Weaver?
First, we will learn a great deal from Weaver regarding the relation of rhetoric to dialectic. Second, his understanding of culture is second to none, and finally, the way Weaver models conservative cultural critique is vital reading for all who would “influence the culture for Christ and for Liberty.” By the end of this term we will have circled the notion of cultural criticism, or, as Weaver puts it, “being a doctor of culture,” more than once. But, Dr. Tallmon, what does that have to do with Rhetoric class?
Answer me this: About what do you wish to persuade others?
I look forward to talking with you!
On dialectic and rhetoric
2015 January 2 by Dr. Tallmon
Kind of proud of this piece in the September 2014 volume of the Classical Lutheran Education Journal. Thought I’d link to it here (it’s the second article). Enjoy! Let me know what you think . . .
24 July 14 – Where are all the Rhetorical Revolutionaries?!
2014 July 24 by Dr. Tallmon
I more-or-less announced on this blog, a few days back, that RhetoricRing.com will host the Rhetorical Revolution!
Are you ready to join?
What do you perceive it to be?
How do you “wage revolution”?
Isaiah McPeak, for example, has just instituted, at Ethos Debate, the distinguished and substantive, ” Order of the Rhetor.” I’ll let him tell you about it. The point I wish to underscore is that his project, indeed, much of what Isaiah does, promotes the continued relevance of rhetoric in our day. Bravo!
CCLE XIV Presentation
2014 July 12 by Dr. Tallmon
For your reading pleasure . . .
Reclaiming the Education of our Lutheran Heritage
(Presented at Concordia Theological Seminary, St. Louis, MO, July 15, 2014)
28 June 2014 For your consideration
2014 June 28 by Dr. Tallmon
Once upon a time I published an article on casuistry in the Oxford University Press Encyclopedia of Rhetoric.
I mention “Five Facets of Phronesis in Rhetorical Reasoning” near the end of that article. The role of phronesis in rhetorical reasoning is the most interesting of any intellectual process I’ve studied. I think these two pieces compliment one another quite well, and “Five Facets” is, in fact, the most significant contribution to rhetorical theory of which I am capable. Enjoy! (I would be interested to read your thoughts on this blog. CLICK ON THE TITLE OF THIS POST IF YOU WISH TO COMMENT!)
17 Feb 13 “The Cultural Role of Rhetoric”
2013 February 17 by Dr. Tallmon
Two highlights from a recent discussion of this essay in my Rhetoric class:
- The cultural role of rhetoric goes well beyond “giving powerful speeches in order to influence the culture.” When Weaver says, “Dialectic alone in the social realm is subversive,” that begs the question: “Subversive of what?” Answer: social cohesion. As Coach Follette taught me, and so many others, the “enthymematic base,” or “deep rhetoric,” of a society is the taken-for-granted assumptions around which we cohere. Our surface rhetoric, as Weaver clearly explicates, replenishes the wellsprings of our social bonds by, enthymematically, communicating value presuppostions and so forth, in various and subtle ways. Much, much more to say on this topic, but I’ll leave it for now (NO TOME ZONE! heh, heh)
- Weaver offers an unusually cogent illustration of how the doctor of culture should operate in our day. Consider, for example, by what method he develops his cultural critique. He uses the trial of Socrates to illustrate his point, then turns his critique to the General Semanticists, whom, he argues, have a position that “eats away at the fibre of our society.” Question #1: Why is this especially important in our day? (Hint: postmoderns don’t much value logic.) Question #2: Who are these persons and/or groups whose positions “eat away at the fibre of our society” TODAY?
Weaver’s cultural critique is based, at bottom, on the imago dei. In other words, when a position advances an image of man that tends toward the denigration of man, it must be diagnosed and defeated, for the preservation of civil society. Question #3: By what methods should we conservatives engage those whose positions “eat away at the fibre of our society” TODAY? (Hint: vocation)
There are many, many implications regarding the nature of culture that would make for interesting points of inquiry, but this post is already too lengthy. Thoughts?
27 Jan 13 “Status and Function”
2013 January 27 by Dr. Tallmon
You will find Weaver’s “Status and Function” in Visions of Order: The Cultural Crisis of Our Time (available at ISI Press).
Image of Culture (20 Jan 13)
2013 January 20 by Dr. Tallmon
Well, friends, according to our schedule, we begin discussing “The Image of Culture” today. There is a version of it posted at “Weaver’s Top Ten” here on RhetoricRing.com for your convenience. I invite others to initiate this discussion, since, as I posted the other day, I have an aversion to talking to myself. (Please read “The Image of Culture,” whether or not you plan to post your thoughts. And you will have thoughts. Thoughts will flood your cerebral cortex like a tsunami. This is the essay that, above all others, raises the questions that shaped this blogfest. By the time you wade past the introductory paragraphs you will encounter Weaver on being a doctor of culture, his thought on cultural cohesion, and his notion of the “tyrannizing image.” Deep waters.)
If I don’t hear from anyone this week, I’ll assume the timing was bad and pull the plug on this little project. ;)
Life Without Prejudice (13 Jan 13)
2013 January 13 by Dr. Tallmon
Next up . . .
we discuss the version of Weaver’s “Life Without Prejudice” included in Ted Smith’s In Defense of Tradition, pp. 88-96. This is an online discussion only, for the week between 13 and 20 January. I will post a question or two, beginning Monday, 14 Jan 13. Please post your thoughts and questions here.
A challenge and a question
2013 January 1 by Dr. Tallmon
Page 389 of the “Epilogue” begs an important question: How ought we conservatives mount an offensive in 2013 America, and beyond? In other words, what are some of the elements that we will need to integrate into our “unorthodox defense of orthodoxy” as we attempt to bring our nation back to its roots? For example, on page 391, Weaver writes of the challenge to “save the human spirit by re-creating a non-materialist society.” This is certainly the kind of question we should answer during the coming weeks!
Speaking of challenges, I challenge all who participate in this blogfest to NOT answer that question YET. Rather, let’s all compile a record of poignant passages, throughout the next weeks, then we’ll have a really substantive “Wrap-up session,” on March 3-10, when we discuss “Arguing the Conservative Cause.” Okay? Sweet.
Dr. Follette,
This is a direct question for you. The aim here is to “kick-off” our discussion, and I don’t expect you to post a response until January 6th. It will give us something to look forward to! Anticipation, what?! . . .
On page 390, Weaver posits that the South needs “a metaphysic of its position.” It seems to me that a good deal of Weaver’s scholarship was motivated by this very consideration. How much of Weaver’s thought would you say is devoted to this project? AND, What are the elements of the metaphysic of the Southern culture?