Rebirth of Dialogue, The: Bakhtin, Socrates, and the Rhetorical Tradition

Dialogue has suffered a long eclipse in the history of philosophy and the history of rhetoric but has enjoyed a rebirth in the work of Hans-Georg Gadamer, Martin Buber, and Mikhail Bakhtin. Among twentieth-century figures, Bakhtin took a special interest in the history of the dialogue form. This book explores Bakhtin's understanding of Socratic dialogue and the notion that dialogue is not simply a way of persuading others to accept our ideas, but a way of holding ourselves, and others, accountable for all of our thoughts, words, and actions. In supporting this premise, Bakhtin challenges the traditions of argument and persuasion handed down from Plato and Aristotle, and he offers, as an alternative, a dialogical rhetoric that restructures the traditional relationship between speakers and listeners, writers and readers, as a mutual testing, contesting, and creating of ideas. The author suggests that Bakhtin's dialogical rhetoric is not restricted to oral discourse, but is possible in any medium, including written, graphic, and digital. This Book Explores Bakhtin's Understanding Of Socratic Dialogue And The Notion That Dialogue Is Not Simply A Way Of Persuading Others To Accept Our Ideas, But A Way Of Holding Ourselves, And Others, Accountable For All Of Our Thoughts, Words, And Actions. In Supporting This Premise, Bakhtin Challenges The Traditions Of Argument And Persuasion Handed Down From Plato And Aristotle, And He Offers, As An Alternative, A Dialogical Rhetoric That Restructures The Traditional Relationship Between Speakers And Listeners, Writers And Readers, As A Mutual Testing, Contesting, And Creating Of Ideas. The Author Suggests That Bakhtin's Dialogical Rhetoric Is Not Restricted To Oral Discourse, But Is Possible In Any Medium, Including Written, Graphic, And Digital.--jacket. Introduction. Rethinking The Socratic Dialogue -- Bakhtin, Dialogue, And The Rhetorical Tradition -- Dialogical Rhetoric As Testing, Contesting, And Creating Ideas -- The Traditional Socrates: Dialogue, Rhetoric, And Dialectic. Socrates' Life And Work -- The Philosophical/ Rhetoric Tradition: From Dialogue To Dialectic And Rhetoric -- The British Empirical Tradition: Logic And Socratic Negative Dialectic -- The Dialogical Tradition: Testing, Contesting, And Creating Ideas -- Mikhail M. Bakhtin, Dialogical Rhetoric, And The Socratic Dialogue. Bakhtin's Life And Works -- Dialogical Rhetoric As An Exchange Of Utterances -- Bakhtin And The Socratic Dialogue -- The Socratic Dialogue As Novelistic -- Reading Texts Contextually And Extratextually -- Cultural Conflict And The Testing Of Persons And Ideas In The Laches. Cultural Conflict From Homer To Socrates -- Cultural Conflict In The Homeric Epics -- Anacrisis And Syncrisis: Testing Persons And Ideas -- Truth As Dialogic: Creating A Cultural Hybrid In The Protagoras. Protagoras Versus Socrates? -- Cooperative Discussion : Creating A Cultural Hybrid -- Cooperation Or Contestation? -- Dialogue As Carnival: Contesting Cultural And Rhetorical Practices In The Gorgias. Gorgias Versus Socrates? -- Carnivalistic Debate: Contesting Cultural And Rhetorical Practices -- Dialogue On The Threshold: The Contest Of The Just Life -- Epilogue: Dialogical Rhetoric In Print And Digital Media -- Cultural Conflict And Old/new Media -- Testing Cultural Differences In Printed Texts -- Contesting Cultural Authority In Digital Discussion Groups -- Creating A Digital Community Across A Cultural Divide. James P. Zappen. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 163-220) And Index. "This book explores Bakhtin's understanding of Socratic dialogue and the notion that dialogue is not simply a way of persuading others to accept our ideas, but a way of holding ourselves, and others, accountable for all of our thoughts, words, and actions. In supporting this premise, Bakhtin challenges the traditions of argument and persuasion handed down from Plato and Aristotle, and he offers, as an alternative, a dialogical rhetoric that restructures the traditional relationship between speakers and listeners, writers and readers, as a mutual testing, contesting, and creating of ideas. The author suggests that Bakhtin's dialogical rhetoric is not restricted to oral discourse, but is possible in any medium, including written, graphic, and digital."--BOOK JACKET.