Deliberation, Phrônesis, and Authenticity: Heidegger's Early Conception of Rhetoric

Abstract

Interest in writings of existentialist philosopher Martin Heidegger has been on rise in field of (Scult 199; D. Smith 2003). Several essays have been published over last few years exploring importance Heidegger attributes to rhetoric, especially in his major treatise, Being and Time (Hyde 1994; Ramsey 1993). These articles address relationship of to what Heidegger labels as the a form of mass culture which embraces societal norms in a nonreflective manner. Given that Heidegger associates speech or Rede with gossip and idle talk used by they, one must question whether play any positive role in fostering what Heidegger defines as an au thentic existence: a life conducted in accordance with one's own possibilities. Hyde and Smith address this issue in their piece: Aristotle and Heidegger on Emotion and Rhetoric. They argue that does not lead human being?or in Heidegger's terms, Dasein?toward an authentic existence. Rather the community of 'they' and go in hand (1992, 92). By focusing on everyday activities of they, rhetoric directs people to a temporal and spatial realm where their authenticity will be forsaken and forgot ten (92). is, thus, inextricably connected to those gossiping modes of conversation which embed Dasein within its inauthentic existence. Hyde, however, later qualifies this conclusion in essay The Call of Conscience: Heidegger and Question of Rhetoric (Hyde 1994). Here he finds that has potential to produce a of conscience which leaps forth and liberates others as a way of leading them toward an authentic existence (see Heidegger 1962, 164, 344). Rhetoric, used by an authentic Dasein who is 'communicating' and 'struggling' with others, bring about a 'modifica tion' of our publicness' (Hyde 1994, 382). In doing so, can sound a call that interprets complacency of our everyday world of common sense and common praxis and thereby summons us to choose, to act, and perhaps to change our lives for 'better' (382).