A Pragmatic Construction of the Self in English Composition Theory

by Joseph Zeppetello

For composition instructors caught between traditional theories that emphasize writing skills and newer theories that require entering a political arena on behalf of certain neglected groups of students, Zeppetello (English, Marist College, Poughkeepsie, New York) adapts the thought of Richard Rorty into a pragmatic alternative for the classroom. He considers the essentialist self, which is out there waiting to be discovered and understood; the linguistic self, which is contingent and entirely created by language; and the pragmatic self, both classical and modern, which is contingent on language, which is also in turn contingent. The text is double spaced. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

140 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 1999