A metaphysic of form: Extending Burke's theory of rhetorical form (Edmund Burke)

Rhetoric has been defined in numerous ways and studied from a variety of perspectives. This thesis assumes that rhetoric involves the forming of thoughts and ideas into language and discourse. To borrow from Burke, the resulting discourse is never a mere “reflection of reality,” but neither is it merely “a selection…and thereby a reflection of reality.” This thesis argues that the ways thoughts and ideas are formed into discourse is actually creative and re-creative of reality. The thesis begins with a chapter on the forming of form, relating rhetorical form to metaphysical theory. After a discussion of Gorgias' epistemology and modern epistemic rhetoric, it then proceeds to a discussion of Burke's theory of form, a presentation of associational juxtaposition as an extension of Burke's theory. This thesis will conclude with a chapter showing the use of associational juxtaposition in justification of war with Iraq.