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CHAPTER 2 Precursors of Rhetoric Culture Theory

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Culture and Rhetoric
This chapter is in the book Culture and Rhetoric
CHAPTER 2Precursors of Rhetoric Culture TheoryChristian Meyer      Rhetoric Culture theory has its roots in a long history, and in what follows I present some of the ideas that scholars—mainly rhetoricians, but also some philosophers—have developed over the centuries in order to grasp the diffi cult and complex relationship between rhetoric, culture, and humanity. Th roughout, I have given priority to the voices of the precursors of Rhetoric Culture theory and have kept my own interpretation and comments to a minimum. At the end, I recall the work of scholars who were among the fi rst to empirically study the constitutive role of rhetoric in non-European cultures.  Th e scholarly myth of origin has it that the term rhetoric developed in Ancient Greece under specifi c circumstances. Th e driving force was political change during the sixth and fi ft h century bce. At that time, a federation of several poleis emerged with each polis sending representatives to regular coun-cils where decisions concerning the federation were made. Competent orators for the councils, courts, and other social occasions were needed to present the concerns of the polis. Th e time for each speech was limited so that ora-tors had to be brief and concise, since decisions were taken directly aft er their presentations (cf. Nietzsche 1989; Meier 1990). Furthermore, in these devel-oping ancient democracies it was important for everyone to defend his rights in court. Th us, much of Greek rhetoric had its origin in a nonviolent struggle
© 2022, Berghahn Books, New York, Oxford

CHAPTER 2Precursors of Rhetoric Culture TheoryChristian Meyer      Rhetoric Culture theory has its roots in a long history, and in what follows I present some of the ideas that scholars—mainly rhetoricians, but also some philosophers—have developed over the centuries in order to grasp the diffi cult and complex relationship between rhetoric, culture, and humanity. Th roughout, I have given priority to the voices of the precursors of Rhetoric Culture theory and have kept my own interpretation and comments to a minimum. At the end, I recall the work of scholars who were among the fi rst to empirically study the constitutive role of rhetoric in non-European cultures.  Th e scholarly myth of origin has it that the term rhetoric developed in Ancient Greece under specifi c circumstances. Th e driving force was political change during the sixth and fi ft h century bce. At that time, a federation of several poleis emerged with each polis sending representatives to regular coun-cils where decisions concerning the federation were made. Competent orators for the councils, courts, and other social occasions were needed to present the concerns of the polis. Th e time for each speech was limited so that ora-tors had to be brief and concise, since decisions were taken directly aft er their presentations (cf. Nietzsche 1989; Meier 1990). Furthermore, in these devel-oping ancient democracies it was important for everyone to defend his rights in court. Th us, much of Greek rhetoric had its origin in a nonviolent struggle
© 2022, Berghahn Books, New York, Oxford
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