Rhetoric Society Quarterly Jun 1996

The most significant passage on rhetoric in the works of Francis bacon

Sean Patrick O'Rourke ; Don Paul Abbott ; Marc Cogan ; Rene Dube ; Thomas O. Sloane ; James P. Zappen

Abstract

Sean Patrick O'Rourke: Introduction On Saturday, November 20, 1993, five historians of rhetoric presented papers on the question, What is the most significant passage on rhetoric in the works of Francis Bacon? The American Society for the History of Rhetoric sponsored the panel, which was part of the Speech Communication Association's 79th annual meeting held in Miami Beach, Florida. Bacon's views on the nature and scope of rhetoric have become increasingly important. As a philosopher, historian, politician, advocate, scientist, and essayist, Bacon was well aware of the cultural uses of rhetoric, and he showed particular concern for the place of rhetoric in liberal education. Moreover, he systematized and promoted his ideas in a forceful, eloquent way. As a result, despite the judgment of many that Bacon made no original contributions to science and offered little that was pivotal in the history of jurisprudence or politics, Bacon has been a central figure in intellectual history. Certainly that remains true today. Bacon's thought is deeply relevant to the ongoing work in the rhetoric of science, his influence as a prose stylist has important implications for those concerned with the essay, and his stature and authority in the field of law make his writings a preface to the contemporary debates on the rhetoric of law. For reasons that will soon become obvious, the papers provoked a lively and enthusiastic discussion when they were presented in Miami. They are presented here in the hope that they will prove equally provocative to the readers of RSQ.

Journal
Rhetoric Society Quarterly
Published
1996-06-01
DOI
10.1080/02773949609391073
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Topics
rhetorical criticism public rhetoric editorial matter
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Citation Context

Cited by in this index (2)

  1. Holding (2015)
    The Rhetoric of the Open Fist
    Rhetoric Society Quarterly
  2. Moran et al. (2011)
    A Bibliography of Works Published in the History of Professional Communication …
    Journal of Technical Writing and Communication

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CrossRef global citation count: 3 View in citation network → Build reading path →

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