Pursuing the Power of Symbolism: Reflections on Western Rhetorical Thought

Author: Liu Yamao
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-11-01
Features: The author conducts a comprehensive examination of Western rhetorical thought, focusing on five major relationships: the explicit and implicit aspects of rhetoric, facts and persuasion, the rhetor and audience, reason and authority, and figures of speech and "rhetorical invention." The book explores hot topics of interest across various fields such as politics, law, education, and media, including discourse power, persuasive techniques, and audience objectives. It is a novel and unique monograph on the study of Western rhetoric. The author examines Western rhetorical thought from multidisciplinary, multi-angle, multi-level, and synchronic-diachronic perspectives. The study investigates various manifestations of rhetoric and their intrinsic connections across fields such as rhetorical tradition and contemporary norms, theory and practice, as well as philosophy, language, politics, culture, and communication. It also explores hot topics of interest in politics, law, education, and media, such as discourse rights, persuasive techniques, and audience objectives. This book not only provides readers with a theoretical interpretive framework but also offers a substantive critique of the events following 9/11 and the policy-making process behind Bush's decision to invade Iraq.