A vitalidade da retórica: atravessando os séculos

Abstract

Throughout its journey, the reflection upon Rhetorics, aiming at an evaluation of its present state of affairs, closely touches the question of its nature, its limits and its reach. Several functions have been given to it, according to different ways of thinking the world and the things, i.e., following different paradigms. Restrictions and enlargements have been responsible for crises and questionings or have brought high points and even excessive valorizations. Rhetorics has been tested by the same principles which internally steer it and which are part of its own nature: a propitious field to controversy, to discussion, to debate and, consequently, to opinion formation. Hence, it is not strange that it has been the stage of divergences, of beliefs/ disbeliefs, of acceptance/rejection. This scenario brings the present study to a mise au point which highlights the basic points on which it has been based, along with its history, and which are responsible for its continuous blossom, for the vitality it takes advantage of at the present - not only due to its theoretical character (as a discourse theory), but also to its practical one (discourse construction and elaboration in its several modalities). The questions about identity take us to notions, which are expensive to Rhetorics, such as common sense, sharing of values, adherence and the like. Our objective is to show that the place of confrontation of intersubjectivities, typical of argumentation, is also a place of values, of possibilities in terms of change and interaction. Today, we are very close to Rhetorics’ original concepts and its system of integrated principles. As an action about understanding and will, it conjoins the intellective and affective capacities, treating them as indissociable, being it one of its biggest strengths at the present.