English 5361: Week 13 Post - Even More Contemporary Rhetoric
This week's reading covered even more contemporary rhetoric, leading me to believe that we have devoted more time to a relatively brief period in rhetorical history than to the thousands of years that came before, but that is the nature of the survey course.
Michel Foucault, of course, featured prominently in this week's readings. I have heard the name Focault before, mentioned by other students in previous classes, although, I may be out of place by admitting that I have never previously read any of his work. Focault never featured much in my undergraduate degree.
I found it fascinating that Herrick reports that "even his biographers sometimes confess 'ignorance about what Focault is doing'" (p 246). When statements like that are made by people who have studied the man's work intensively, what hope have I of grasping the true intentions of his work. Focault's work seems to focus on insanity and power, definitely on power. He who has the power makes the decisions.
My thoughts on power are very simple. Those who have power want to keep it. Those who do not have power want to obtain it. Look at the hundreds of millions of dollars spent on political campaigning. Politicians do not spend that money in search of the comparatively small salaries that the roles provide. They do not spend it seeking to do good; they could do more good by donating the money to charities. They spend it seeking power.
~~~An aside on Assignment #3~~~~~~
I have decided to focus on view of truth from a rhetorical viewpoint. This may be difficult to narrow, and I only have a couple of weeks to finish, so wish me luck!
Michel Foucault, of course, featured prominently in this week's readings. I have heard the name Focault before, mentioned by other students in previous classes, although, I may be out of place by admitting that I have never previously read any of his work. Focault never featured much in my undergraduate degree.
I found it fascinating that Herrick reports that "even his biographers sometimes confess 'ignorance about what Focault is doing'" (p 246). When statements like that are made by people who have studied the man's work intensively, what hope have I of grasping the true intentions of his work. Focault's work seems to focus on insanity and power, definitely on power. He who has the power makes the decisions.
My thoughts on power are very simple. Those who have power want to keep it. Those who do not have power want to obtain it. Look at the hundreds of millions of dollars spent on political campaigning. Politicians do not spend that money in search of the comparatively small salaries that the roles provide. They do not spend it seeking to do good; they could do more good by donating the money to charities. They spend it seeking power.
~~~An aside on Assignment #3~~~~~~
I have decided to focus on view of truth from a rhetorical viewpoint. This may be difficult to narrow, and I only have a couple of weeks to finish, so wish me luck!
posted by Jessica Badger at
4:03 PM
2 Comments:
Jessica,
I think you have offered some very “real” observations about power: those who have it generally want to keep it. On that premise, the question then becomes not “what fosters powers,” as perhaps what we looked at in terms of Foucault, but more towards “what maintains power.” What steps does the one in power have to take to keep it? What steps do those not in power have to take to permit the one in power to keep it? How much of this maintenance procedure reflects conscious effort vs. unconscious effort? And, if one does have “the power,” what does that actually “mean” and how is this position of power actually “manifested”?
In regard to your essay, I think “truth” is a wonderful idea as it will allow you compare and contrast many ideas we’ve looked at: Plato’s truth, Augustine’s truth, Aristotle’s artistic proofs, Bacon’s observational truths, and sensory-inputs as truth (Locke). As a science-focused technical writer, I would really be interested to see what observations and conclusions you come up with.
Cris
Jessica--Enjoyed working with you this semester. Wish you the best in your studies, finishing up your degree!--Dr. Rice
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