Symbolic Inducement and Knowing: A Study in the Foundations of Rhetoric

by Richard B. Gregg

In this book, Dr. Gregg deals wit ha fundamental question about humans as communicative beings. He undertakes to synthesize the claims that can be made for affirming that we know because we perceive what is outside our skin symbolically. He explores the support for and the implications of saying that humans belong to a peculiarly symbol-using, symbol-making, and symbol-misusing species.

To develop his argument, Gregg draw on anthropological, neurophysiological, psycholinguistic, psychological, literary, and rhetorical theories and findings. Gregg goes beyond simply asserting the existence of symbolic behavior. He studies symbolic behavior as interaction with external environment. In doing so he brings up to date a historic line of argument that has gained new prominence during the last half century.

Gregg' position has its contemporary roots in twentieth century philosophy, theory of art, and literary theory.

In his quest for understanding what symbolic inducement can mean physiologically, linguistically, socially, and as a basis for criticism of rhetoric, Richard Gregg has produced the most comprehensive exposition that has been offered since the work of Suzanne Langer.

164 pages, Hardcover

First published June 15, 2006