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Language is Sermonic: Richard M. Weaver on the Nature of Rhetoric Paperback – July 1, 1985

by Richard L. Johannesen (Editor), Rennard Strickland (Editor)

4.8 9 ratings

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Richard M. Weaver believed that “rhetoric at its truest seeks to perfect men by showing them better versions of themselves.” Language is Sermonic offers eight of Weaver’s best essays on the nature of traditional rhetoric and its role in shaping society. Arguing throughout the book against society’s reverence for relativism―and the consequential disregard for real values―this philosophical idealist uses his southern background and classical education as a backdrop for his scrutiny of our misuse of language.

Weaver argues that rhetoric in its highest form involves making and persuasively presenting choice among goods. He condemns such supposedly value-free stances as cultural relativism, semantic positivism, scientism, and radical egalitarianism. Eschewing such peripheral aspect s of rhetoric as memorization and delivery, aspects too often now presented as the whole, Weaver deals instead with the substance of rhetoric. Ideas and the words used to express them―these are Weaver’s subjects.

Anyone concerned about language―its use and abuse in contemporary society―will find Language is Sermonic provocative and rewarding. The editors’ critical interpretation of all of Weaver’s writing, as well as Ralph Eubanks’ brief appreciation of Weaver, make this a book no student of language and ideas should be without.

Richard M. Weaver was one of the most stimulating and controversial rhetorical theorists of our time. He taught for many years at the University of Chicago and was the author of several books, including Visions of Order, Ideas Have Consequences, The Ethics of Rhetoric, and Life Without Prejudice and Other Essays.

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About the Author

Richard L. Johannesen is professor of communication studies and adjunct professor of English rhetoric at Northern Illinois University.

Rennard Strickland is John W. Shleppey Research Professor of Law and History at the University of Tulsa.

Ralph T. Eubanks is professor of rhetoric and the department of communication arts at the University of West Florida.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ LSU Press; Reprint edition (July 1, 1985)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 240 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0807112216
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0807112212
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 11.5 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 0.5 x 8.5 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #1,697,617 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #1,516 in Rhetoric (Books)
- #2,384 in American Literature Criticism
- #9,806 in Foreign Language Reference

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Nathan P. Gilmour

The Glory of the Rhetorical

Reviewed in the United States on May 4, 2011

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I first encountered Richard Weaver's work as a first-year professor at a small Christian liberal arts college, and he really has revolutionized my composition teaching.

This collection of essays in particular offer a compelling philosophical case for WHY one might teach rhetoric and composition. There are plenty of books that offer ideas of HOW one might do so, but Weaver, who recognizes that rhetoric, the art of guiding intellectual desire, would likely say that such how-to approaches will never really drive teaching so much as offer new ways to fiddle about with something that seems futile, pointless, or beneath a literature teacher's dignity. Weaver turns the modern English department's priorities upside down, casting rhetoric once more as the culmination of the three ways of liberal arts and the most human of the humanities.

There are very few direct, lesson-plan-building suggestions in this book, and by the time Weaver is done, there's not nearly as much need for them. Stirred by the desire for intellectual goodness, the creativity that good teachers bring to bear will arise well enough if the desire to do something inherently worthwhile is motivating the practice of teaching writing.

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