What do you think?
Rate this book
The Question of Expression: Toward a Phenomenological Rhetoric
Philosophy Dissertation AAT 9946603
The project of phenomenology is the direct investigation of phenomena as consciously experienced, w/out recourse to theories about their causal explanation & as free as possible from unexamined preconceptions & presuppositions. The purpose of this investigation is intuit the "things themselves," or the essential structures of experience. Husserl tells us that this is to be achieved thru a purely descriptive method, which in turn implies a means of communicating this pre-theoretical experience to others in such a way that others can "see" this experience for themselves. However, phenomenology's goal of a direct & pre-theoretical approach to experience begs the question of what it would mean to describe experience without reference to theory & other conceptual constructs. Using a formal symbolic system in this endeavor would take the phenomenologist too far away from the lived world s/he seeks to describe. The use of an ordinary language suffused with unexamined preconceptions & presuppositions presents its own problems. I show that these difficulties were of great concern to Husserl, since he considered the communication of phenomenological insights as essential to the practice of phenomenology. I argue that an adequate phenomenological expression communicates its insights by eliciting these insights in others. On these grounds, an appropriately phenomenological mode of expression would have to be evocative rather than descriptive in nature, & akin to a rhetoric. I support this contention by showing that there is a "rhetorical impulse" secreted within Husserl's theory of meaning & phenomenology of language, which in turn informed the phenomenologies of Heidegger & Merleau-Ponty. I further contend that phenomenologists must rediscover & embrace this "rhetorical impulse" in order to revive the practice of phenomenology, conceived of as speaking from & expressing a common lifeworld. I conclude by summarizing the essential elements of a phenomenological rhetoric.
The project of phenomenology is the direct investigation of phenomena as consciously experienced, w/out recourse to theories about their causal explanation & as free as possible from unexamined preconceptions & presuppositions. The purpose of this investigation is intuit the "things themselves," or the essential structures of experience. Husserl tells us that this is to be achieved thru a purely descriptive method, which in turn implies a means of communicating this pre-theoretical experience to others in such a way that others can "see" this experience for themselves. However, phenomenology's goal of a direct & pre-theoretical approach to experience begs the question of what it would mean to describe experience without reference to theory & other conceptual constructs. Using a formal symbolic system in this endeavor would take the phenomenologist too far away from the lived world s/he seeks to describe. The use of an ordinary language suffused with unexamined preconceptions & presuppositions presents its own problems. I show that these difficulties were of great concern to Husserl, since he considered the communication of phenomenological insights as essential to the practice of phenomenology. I argue that an adequate phenomenological expression communicates its insights by eliciting these insights in others. On these grounds, an appropriately phenomenological mode of expression would have to be evocative rather than descriptive in nature, & akin to a rhetoric. I support this contention by showing that there is a "rhetorical impulse" secreted within Husserl's theory of meaning & phenomenology of language, which in turn informed the phenomenologies of Heidegger & Merleau-Ponty. I further contend that phenomenologists must rediscover & embrace this "rhetorical impulse" in order to revive the practice of phenomenology, conceived of as speaking from & expressing a common lifeworld. I conclude by summarizing the essential elements of a phenomenological rhetoric.
296 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 1999
About the author
D.R. Koukal
7Ìýbooks1ÌýfollowerDavid Raymond Koukal
PhD Duquesne, Philosophy '99
Diss: The Question of Expression: Toward a Phenomenological Rhetoric
MA Duquesne, Philosophy '97
BA Shimer College '90
>Fall 2000-present: U of Detroit Mercy
Assoc Prof (04-present)
Dir,ÌýUniv Honors Program (01-present)
Asst Prof (00-04)
>1998-00: Rollins College
Visiting Asst Prof, Adj Instructor
>1998-99: U of Central FloridaÌý
Adj Instructor
>1997-98: Daytona Beach Comm CollegeÌý
Adj Instructor
>1996-97: Carlow CollegeÌý
Adj Instructor
>1995-96: Robert Morris College
Adj Instructor
>1993-1997: Duquesne U
Adj Instructor, TA, Grad Asst
Memberships:
American Philosophical Assn
Canadian Soc for Continental Phil
Internatl Merleau-Ponty Circle
Internatl Assn for Phil & Literature
Soc for Existential & Phenomenological Theory & Culture
Soc for Phenomenology&Existential Phil
Soc for Phenomenology & Media
Soc for Phenomenology & Human Sciences
PhD Duquesne, Philosophy '99
Diss: The Question of Expression: Toward a Phenomenological Rhetoric
MA Duquesne, Philosophy '97
BA Shimer College '90
>Fall 2000-present: U of Detroit Mercy
Assoc Prof (04-present)
Dir,ÌýUniv Honors Program (01-present)
Asst Prof (00-04)
>1998-00: Rollins College
Visiting Asst Prof, Adj Instructor
>1998-99: U of Central FloridaÌý
Adj Instructor
>1997-98: Daytona Beach Comm CollegeÌý
Adj Instructor
>1996-97: Carlow CollegeÌý
Adj Instructor
>1995-96: Robert Morris College
Adj Instructor
>1993-1997: Duquesne U
Adj Instructor, TA, Grad Asst
Memberships:
American Philosophical Assn
Canadian Soc for Continental Phil
Internatl Merleau-Ponty Circle
Internatl Assn for Phil & Literature
Soc for Existential & Phenomenological Theory & Culture
Soc for Phenomenology&Existential Phil
Soc for Phenomenology & Media
Soc for Phenomenology & Human Sciences
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
No one has reviewed this book yet.
Can't find what you're looking for?
Get help and learn more about the design.