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Rhetoric: A Theory of Political Lie or The Essence of Politics? Reflections on the Thought of the Sophists, Hannah Arendt, and Jacques Derrida

Publication date: 04.12.2018

ORGANON, 2018, Volume 50, pp. 147 - 163

https://doi.org/10.4467/00786500.ORG.18.007.9501

Authors

Cyprian Mielczarski
University of Warsaw
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Titles

Rhetoric: A Theory of Political Lie or The Essence of Politics? Reflections on the Thought of the Sophists, Hannah Arendt, and Jacques Derrida

Abstract

This paper offers an outline of practical and theoretical relations between truth and rhetoric. A point of departure for considerations to follow are philosophical theories of the sophists, Plato, and Aristotle as well as modern commentators of political rhetoric. I argue that the predominantly rhetorical nature of contemporary culture is inextricably bound up with the controversial issue of political deception, its definition and function. I refer to the theories of Hannah Arendt and Jacques Derrida pertaining to the following issues: a relation between acting and lying, mass deception, and self–deception in totalitarian states. I further propose that classical ethics developing from Plato, Aristotle and Kant fails as a basis for the analysis of political and social processes in democratic societies. Key to grasping these processes is rhetoric – as an art of persuasion – which has nothing to do with the traditional true–false dichotomy.

References

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Information

Information: ORGANON, 2018, Volume 50, pp. 147 - 163

Article type: Original article

Titles:

English: Rhetoric: A Theory of Political Lie or The Essence of Politics? Reflections on the Thought of the Sophists, Hannah Arendt, and Jacques Derrida

Authors

University of Warsaw

Published at: 04.12.2018

Article status: Open

Licence: CC BY-NC-ND  licence icon

Percentage share of authors:

Cyprian Mielczarski (Author) - 100%

Article corrections:

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Publication languages:

English