Quiz 3 Flashcards
epistemology
Chief Philosophical concern
“How does the human mind ‘learn?’”
“How does it come to ‘know?’”
rationalism
Self-evident propositions deduced by reason are the sole basis of all knowledge
Cartesian dualism
• Mind-body bifurcation (split). ○ Mind can operate without the senses. ○ Rationality/ reason = mind ○ Senses = body • Ramistic influence • Rhetoric has no epistemic value • Rhetoric does not produce "knowledge"
empiricism
the theory that all knowledge is derived from sense-experience.
tabula rasa
• Tabula rasa = blank slate
○ We’re all born like this. No preexisting knowledge
sensus communis
common sense
Rene Descartes
• Descartes (1596-1650)
• French nobleman, mathematician, philosopher
○ “Father of Modern Rationalism”
• Rejected rhetoric (sensory based)
• Descartes problem with the senses is that its easy to be deceived by them
John Locke
• English epistemologist and political philosopher
• Empiricist
• Tabula rasa = blank slate
○ We’re all born like this. No preexisting knowledge
○ Thomas Jefferson
• Direct observation, experience is the sole basis of all knowledge
Giovanni Battista (or Giambattista) Vico
• Taught rhetorical studies at the university of naples (1699-1741)
• Very anti-cartesianism
○ Mathematical proofs are
§ Reliant on symbols
§ Based on acceptance of axioms used for proof
○ A purely rational society?
§ Emotions and judgment
§ Aristotle and the rationality of human emotions
○ What is the basis of civilization: cartesian reason or rhetoric?
§ Answer: rhetoric
Thomas Sheridan
○ A gifted actor
○ Emphasized vocals and physical aspects
○ Need to define language much more broadly. Criticize Locke:
“[Language is] Any way or method whatsoever, by which al that passes in the mind of one man, may be manifested.”
Gilbert Austin
○ Author of Chironomia
○ Mechanical system of notation for choreographing speeches
○ Emphasized physical delivery
Descartes’ famous quotation that (he thought) proved his existence
• Cogito, ergo sum = “I think. Therefore I am.”
Locke’s descriptions/criticisms of language/rhetoric
• “An Essay concerning Human Understanding” (1690)
• Sensation is universal. Eloquence is not.
• Ideas (reflections on sensations)
• Words/language (sings of ideas)
• “no man’s knowledge here can go beyond his experience.”
• Rhetoric
○ It is a “perfect cheat”
○ “That powerful instrument of error and deceit.”
○
The language of logic
• Certain? Or impperfect?
Sheridan’s definition of “language.”
“[Language is] Any way or method whatsoever, by which al that passes in the mind of one man, may be manifested.”
The primary European countries in which the Enlightenment movement took place
England, France, United States, Scotland
the key characteristics of the Enlightenment period (e.g., the scientific revolution, the central question/philosophic concern, the emphasis on doubt as opposed to the Medieval period’s emphasis on belief, anti-Religion sentiment, and others.)
○ Scientific Revolution (rise of scientific method)
§ Ends up very anti-religion, but not anti-religious
§ An anti-supernaturalist paradigm
□ Separate faith from reason; privilege reason
□ Refound EVERYTHING on rational principles
○ Chief Philosophical concern: Epistemology
§ “How does the human mind ‘learn?’”
§ “How does it come to ‘know?’”
○ Emphasis on “systematic doubt”
○ Chief Political concern: the “Rights of Man”
§ Ends up very anti-Monarchy
○ Economic Growth: the rise of Capitalism
Descartes’ rationalism, analytic geometry, and “certainty of knowledge”
• Sought absolute certainty of knowledge
○ Math, analytic geometry
• Rejected rhetoric (sensory based)
• Descartes problem with the senses is that its easy to be deceived by them
• Rationalism = rational certainty + mathematical certainty ○ That’s how he knows about himself and the world. Rationalism is truth/ reality. I can only know what I can prove with rational and mathematical certainty ○ Do not trust your observations or senses.
his reasons for rejecting rhetoric
- Rhetoric has no epistemic value
* Rhetoric does not produce “knowledge”
Descartes specific ideas that came to be known as Cartesian dualism
• Mind-body bifurcation (split). ○ Mind can operate without the senses. ○ Rationality/ reason = mind ○ Senses = body • Ramistic influence • Rhetoric has no epistemic value • Rhetoric does not produce "knowledge" .
Locke vs Descarte and the influence of Descartes and Locke on the “rhetorical shift;”
Descartes vs Locke Descates • Our senses can be decieved! • Trust your rationalit: ○ Mental intuittion ○ Logical deduction Locke: • Our rationality can fail! • Trust your senses ○ Direct observation ○ Direct experience
1. Rationality: a. The use of reasoning b. A way of knowing and understanding the world 2. Sensory perception a. Observation and experience b. Is a way of knowing and understanding the world 3. But are they the only ways of knowing and understanding the world? 4. Is rhetoric (the use of language to create and communicate ideas) also a way of knowing and understanding the world?
“Proof” for “ultimate questions?”
• Can Rationality “explain” everything?
• Does science explain everything?
○ Or does science just describe?
○ What does science explain?
§ Just describes the phenomena that can be observed in the world?
• Important questions: beyond scientific method
○ How did it all begin? Is there purpose within nature?
○ What are we all here for? What is the meaning of life or the point of living?
○ God? Death and “After-life”
• Is it really a question of objective (empirical) vs. subjective (interpretive)
○ Scientism (the natural sciences are superior)
○ Social sciences and humanities (the arts, ethos, literature, metaphysics, philosophy, rhetoric, theology/ religion are inferior)?
“Dyed in the wool faith-heads are immune to argument.”
Vico’s principal objections to Descartes’ philosophy
• Very anti-cartesianism
○ Mathematical proofs are
§ Reliant on symbols
§ Based on acceptance of axioms used for proof
○ A purely rational society?
§ Emotions and judgment
§ Aristotle and the rationality of human emotions
○ What is the basis of civilization: cartesian reason or rhetoric?
§ Answer: rhetoric
Which of the Classical Canons of Oration the Elocutionary Movement emphasized
§ The 5th classical canon: actio
□ Lacked scrutiny
what the elocutionists were intent on raising the study of delivery to
○ Wanted to raise the study of delivery to a science (i.e. provide an organized and rational account of the canon of delivery))
§ Learn more about human nature
□ Voice and gestures are the natural languages of the passions
§ The 5th classical canon: actio
□ Lacked scrutiny
§ English language was particularly suited to public speaking
□ A bit of an ethnocentric view
three (3) reasons the elocutionists gave for the value of studying delivery
- learn more about human nature
- the 5th classical canon: actio
- English language was particularly suited to public speaking
the two most well known elocutionists
thomas sheridan and gilbert austin
the two (2) aspects of delivery Sheridan emphasized
○ Emphasized vocals and physical aspects
what Gilbert Austin reduced the study of rhetoric to
○ Mechanical system of notation for choreographing speeches
What was the background for the elocutionary movement?
○ 18th century: no standardized spelling or pronunciation system
○ Opportunity for increased upward social mobility
§ For educated people
§ Not for those with N. country, scottish, or irish accents
○ No system of electronic amplification
What were the positive and negative contributions of the Elocutionary movement?
• Positive contributions of the elocutionary movement
○ Importance of effective speech delivery (vocal and physical)
○ Importance of the study of nonverbal communication
○ Influence on oral interpretations and performance studies
○ Influence on dance notations and choreography
• Negative consequences of the Elocutionary movement
○ Ignored the message, focused on the medium
○ Without Invention and Argument, rhetoric loses epistemic value
Public speaking came to be viewed as “artificial” (theatrical, acting)
