Human Communication as Narration: Toward a Philosophy of Reason, Value, and Action

Studies in Rhetoric & Communication

by Walter R. Fisher

This book addresses questions that have concerned rhetoricians, literary theorists, and philosophers since the time of the pre-Socratics and the How do people come to believe and to act on the basis of communicative experiences? What is the nature of reason and rationality in these experiences? What is the role of values in human decision making and action? How can reason and values be assessed? In answering these questions, Professor Fisher proposes a reconceptualization of humankind as homo narrans, that all forms of human communication need to be seen as stories―symbolic interpretations of aspects of the world occurring in time and shaped by history, culture, and character; that individuated forms of discourse should be considered "good reasons"―values or value-laden warrants for believing or acting in certain ways; and that a narrative logic that all humans have natural capacities to employ ought to be conceived of as the logic by which human communication is assessed.

Genres: Philosophy, Nonfiction, Academic, Communication, Language

220 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 1987

Reviews

[Arda]

Notes from thesis:

Lived reality and embodied experience is not contained but rather nuanced – often raw and therefore chaotic and volatile. This, ultimately, puts one at risk (Alexander, 2014), and daring to tell stories without putting too many restraints are often risky endeavors to undertake. The willingness to publicly expose one’s self-scrutiny requires courage, but it is important to take such risks for the study as well as for bettering ourselves and the world (Anderson & Glass-Coffin, 2013; Holman Jones et al., 2013). Even if the act of taking chances is not complete, still, the readiness to take on such risks when sharing the ways in which we relate to the world and explore our human stories (Bochner, 1994; Fisher, 1987) constitutes “our very chance of becoming human” (Butler, 2005, p. 136).

[Cheree Carlson]

Whether you love it or hate it (and there are plenty of folks on each side), this book remains a landmark in rhetorical theory. Fisher examines a vast range of work on public moral argument and posits that the concepts of narrative comprise an epistemological paradigm that is as rational and well reasoned as any other form of "expertise."

Keep in mind that his arena is public _moral_ argument. It's philosophy, not science. For example, you can't narrate away a disease, but a story that "rings true" about the reliability of scientific research may influence the decision to get vaccinated.

[Veronique Perrot]

I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/12754529

[Roy Kenagy]

RK KINDLE also HC in NARRATIVE ANF