Kenneth Burke 1897-1993

Wherever there is persuasion, there is rhetoric Wherever there is persuasion, there is rhetoric. And wherever there is 'meaning' there is persuasion.

The Key Question

The Key Question What is involved, when we say what people are doing and why they are doing it?

“In a rounded statement of motives, you must have some words that name

“In a rounded statement of motives, you must have some words that name Act– names what took place, in thought or deed

“In a rounded statement of motives, you must have some words that name Act– names what took place, in thought or deed Scene—the background of the act; the situation or conditions for what occurred

“In a rounded statement of motives, you must have some words that name Act– names what took place, in thought or deed Scene—the background of the act; the situation or conditions for what occurred Agent—the kind of person that was involved

“In a rounded statement of motives, you must have some words that name Act– names what took place, in thought or deed Scene—the background of the act; the situation or conditions for what occurred Agent—the kind of person that was involved Agency– the tools or means used

“In a rounded statement of motives, you must have some words that name Act– names what took place, in thought or deed Scene—the background of the act; the situation or conditions for what occurred Agent—the kind of person that was involved Agency– the tools or means used Purpose—the goal or end

Descriptions that feature… Scene: draw attention to what is natural, necessary, inevitable Actor/Agent: draw attention to rationality, personality, individuality, the “subjective,” freedom Act: draw attention to the unique, the momentary, the unprecedented Agency: draw attention to the tools, the instruments, the means and ways actors“make do” Purpose: draws attention to the goal, the end, the ultimate, the mystery

Ratios People will disagree about how to describe meaning and motive.

Ratios People will disagree about how to describe meaning and motive. These disagreements typically entail different emphases regarding scene-act-agent-agency-purpose

For Example

For Example Gun control advocates may emphasize the role of the agency/instrument in a given crime

For Example Gun control advocates may emphasize the role of the agency/instrument in a given crime Gun rights advocates, by contrast, emphasize the role of the agent/actor and perhaps the scene (poverty, mental health care, etc).

For Example Pro-life advocates define the act as murder and describe the body of the mother as part of the scene

For Example Pro-life advocates define the act as murder and describe the body of the mother as part of the scene Pro-choice advocates define the act as choice and focus, often, on the agency/means (arguing about protecting safe, effective abortions).

For Example Advocates for climate change policy typically highlight the impact of human agents, and especially the role of fossil fuels (agency).

For Example Advocates for climate change policy typically highlight the impact of human agents, and especially the role of fossil fuels (agency). Climate change skeptics often argue that the scene (earth) is so vast and/or resilient that human agents cannot change it.

For Example Advocates for climate change policy typically highlight the impact of human agents, and especially the role of fossil fuels (agency). Climate change skeptics often argue that the scene (earth) is so vast and/or resilient that human agents cannot change it. (some connect this with a “purpose” based theme– there is no need/way to intervene in the divine plan…

Critics

Critics Ask how does a piece of public discourse organize scene-act-agent-agency-purpose?

Critics Ask how does a piece of public discourse organize scene-act-agent-agency-purpose? Can the account of motive be widened? (that is, would a description that highlights the role of individual actors benefit from an account of scene, or means, etc).

Rhetoricians By contrast, speakers often seek to highlight one of the terms and lowlight the others… thus narrowing the range of interpretations on behalf of an audience.

Final note “A perfectionist might seek to evolve terms free of ambiguity and inconsistency…what we want [however] is not terms that avoid ambiguity, but terms that clearly reveal the strategic spots at which ambiguities necessarily arise” (xviii).

Final note “A perfectionist might seek to evolve terms free of ambiguity and inconsistency…what we want [however] is not terms that avoid ambiguity, but terms that clearly reveal the strategic spots at which ambiguities necessarily arise” (xviii). “Hence…we rather consider it our task to study and clarify the resources of ambiguity” (xix).

Voice for the Voiceless Example of the agent-agency ratio http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/03/11/173816690/new-voices-for-the-voiceless-synthetic-speech-gets-an-upgrade

Crashing Motive http://www.cnn.com/2013/03/11/us/ohio-deadly-crash/index.html

Nugent’s Rhetoric of Motives http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ilUKCqmXwTQ