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Rhetorical Philosophy & Theory

Defining Reality: Definitions and the Politics of Meaning

edward schiappa

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In Defining Reality, Edward Schiappa argues that definitional disputes should be treated less as philosophical questions of “is” and more as sociopolitical questions of “ought.” Instead of asking “What is X?” he advocates that definitions be considered as proposals for shared knowledge and institutional norms, as in “What should count as X in context Y, given our needs and interests?”

 

Covering a broad scope of argument in rhetorical theory, as well as in legal, medical, scientific, and environmental debates, Schiappa shows the act of defining to be a specialized and learned behavior, and therefore one that can be studied and improved. In response to theories that deem discourse to be persuasive, the author asserts that all discourse is definitive discourse that contributes to our construction of a shared reality.

 

Defining Reality sheds light on our methods of creating common truths through language and argumentation and forces us to reconsider the contexts, limitations, and adaptability of our definitions. Hinging on a synthesis of arguments regarding the significance of definitional practices, the book is bolstered by a series of case studies of debates about rape, euthanasia, abortion, and political and environmental issues. These case studies ground Schiappa’s concepts in reality and delineate the power of public discourse within legal contexts. Ranging widely among disciplines from philosophy and classical philology to constitutional law and cognitive psychology, this study substantially contributes to the scholarship of rhetoric and argumentation, particularly as they function in the realm of public discourse.

232 pages, Paperback

First published January 1,2003
Series
Rhetorical Philosophy / Theory

This edition

Format
232 pages, Paperback
Published
May 5, 2003 by Southern Illinois University Press
ISBN
9780809325016
ASIN
0809325012
Language
English

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About the author

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edward schiappa

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Anthony Edward Schiappa, Jr. is an American scholar of communication and rhetoric, currently Professor of Comparative Media Studies/Writing at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he holds the John E. Burchard Chair of Humanities; from 2013 to 2019, he also served as the program's Head. Previously, he spent seventeen years in the Communication Studies Department at the University of Minnesota, the last seven of which he served as chair. He is the author of eight books and numerous articles that have appeared in classics, communication, English/Composition, philosophy, psychology, and law journals.

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Rating(3.7 / 5.0, 3 votes)
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Not-an-Ant
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
April 1,2025
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I enjoyed it for what it was. Surely due to my sympathies with the works of Quine, Wittgenstein, Dewey, Rorty, and others that the author draws from, the book didn’t wow me. The arguments were solid, and the critiques of essentialism and metaphysical absolutism are standard fair for any pragmatist. Where the book shines most is in the case studies that show the rhetorical/definition skill in action. Given the current political situation, this is definitely a book all folks should be picking up so that We can skip the “What is X” nonsense and get to the real meat: discussions of values and practical implications of Our definitions!
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Flaxman
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
April 1,2025
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This book is fantastic: fascinating, clear, and relevant to many areas of inquiry. Schiappa discusses complex concepts in such lucid prose, and offers such apt illustrations, that the concepts are easy to understand.
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Keiko34cm
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
April 1,2025
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This book has been influential in my professional and personal development. The author does an excellent job of exploring the power of definitions and why people need to carefully examine and critique the definitions presented to them, while also developing their own. I've applied the concepts of this book to my profession as well as my spirituality and have found both to be enriched by the concepts and definitions the author provides.
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