John Dewey on the art of communication

John Dewey once wrote: "Of all affairs, communication is the most wonderful." However, despite his obvious affection for communication, Dewey never tells us how it functions in the varied contexts of practical life in which one must employ the art of communication to influence the beliefs and behaviors of others.;This dissertation addresses this problem by approaching Dewey's thinking on communication from a distinctly rhetorical perspective. Thus, the goal of this dissertation is to explicate Dewey's theory of communication in the terms of a rhetorical theory. But insofar as his thought went through three distinct "periods" in his lifetime, beginning with his Idealistic period in 1880, moving into his Experimental period in 1903, and culminating in his Naturalistic period in 1925, Dewey can be said to have had three implicit rhetorical theories. To articulate and explain each of these theories, I trace Dewey's theoretical development through time and construct, through published works, private correspondence, and biographical material. I show that the first theory envisioned rhetoric as a form of eros that helps us grow towards Absolute self-consciousness. The second theory views rhetoric as a form of critical inquiry whose goal is the development of phronesis , or practical wisdom. The third theory treats rhetoric as a productive techne, or a naturalistic form of art that has the power to transform experience, nature, and society through its transactional character.;By tracing Dewey's theoretical development and explicating three implicit theories of rhetoric in his writings, this dissertation not only provides a unique perspective on Dewey's changing views on language, ontology, and social practice, but also demonstrates how each theory can still be effectively used to interpret and guide the art of rhetoric. This kind of work enables us to grasp different facets of this diverse and vibrant art. At the same time, it shows how Dewey's work remains an important resource for those who wish to promote and sustain a democratic way of life by educating citizens in the art of full and moving communication.