Deux interrogations sont à l'origine de cette recherche: un « problème herméneutique » qui porte sur ce que l'injonction pascalienne « travaillons donc à bien penser » est en mesure de signifier dans le contexte de l’augustinisme cartésien qui disqualifie les voies traditionnelles de la raison et un questionnement méthodologique qui porte sur la manière dont on peut travailler à bien penser la somme fondamentalement incertaine constituée par les petits papiers découverts à la mort de Pascal. La première partie pose que la déconstruction et la dissémination du Texte pascalien ne peuvent autoriser une méthode herméneutique que si elles sont éclairées par une intention qui en pense la nécessité et le sens, très exactement sur le modèle gnoséologique de la Bible, que l'exégèse renaissante commence à ressaisir dans son historicité. Le renoncement visible des « petits papiers » aux trois principes de la congruence, de la non-répétition et de la non-contradiction, qui fondent dans notre coutume le « texte » peut être qualifié d'intentionnel. Sur ce fondement, qui légitime une méthode herméneutique, la seconde partie montre que si la nature de l'homme se reflète dans sa pensée, tout entière suspendue par nature entre une double polarité qui la fait osciller entre hasard et nécessité, vide et intentionnalité, ordre et désordre, alors le seul discours auquel il s'agit de se soumettre en tant qu'il restaure un sens et une nécessité au monde jusqu'au coeur du hasard apparent et du fonctionnement de la pensée humaine (que seule la pensée peut penser) est l'enseignement des deux Testaments. / This research work stems from two main questions: on the one hand, from a 'hermeneutical problem' funded on what Pascal‟s famous injunction -'Let us strive, then, to think well' -might mean in the context of Augustinian Cartesianism, which disqualifies traditional reasoning, and on the other hand, from a methodological questioning funded on the ways in which one might strive, then, to think well the notes found on the many scraps of paper discovered after Pascal‟s death. The first part argues that the deconstruction and dissemination of the Text can only authorize a hermeneutical approach provided they are enlightened by a specific intention, which might think out its very necessity and meaning, on the same mode as the gnoseological model of the Bible, which the emerging exegesis is just beginning to seize again by adopting a historicist approach. In the „scraps of paper‟, the renunciation to the three principles of congruence, non-repetition and non-contradiction, which are the foundations of the „text‟, can clearly be described as intentional. There entails from that a legitimate hermeneutical approach, which is developed in the second part. It shows that if the nature of man is reflected in his thought, itself held up by nature between a double polarity, with thought oscillating between chance and necessity, emptiness and intentionality, order and disorder, then the only discourse to which one can be submitted is the teaching of the two Testaments, inasmuch as it re-installs some meaning and necessity to the world, as well as to the workings of human thought (which our thought only can think).

The main aim of this study, in which 310 university students participated, is to investigate whether or not computer interfaces offering human-like apologetic error messages influence users&rsquo / self-appraisals of performances and actual performances in the computerized environment. For the study, an online instructional material which includes deliberate design problems leading to user frustration was developed. The study is comprised of three phases. In the first phase, based on the CCSARP (Cross-Cultural Study of Speech Act Realization Patterns) coding manual and the studies conducted with the framework provided by the manual, apology strategy sequences were elicited from Turkish participants. Two of these apology strategy sequences were selected for producing two apology error messages. In addition to these apology messages, one plain computer error message was also developed for experimental control. The second phase of the study was conducted to determine whether these three messages were perceived as apologies. It was found out that the two apology messages were perceived as apologies and the plain computer message was not perceived as an apology. In the third phase these three messages were used to investigate the relationship between mood, self-appraisal of performance and actual performance after the transmission of the apologetic error messages. The findings of this study show that the frequencies of apology strategies preferred in the computerized environment are similar with those utilized in the social context. Statistical analyses also reveal that the influence of apology messages on self-appraisal of performance depends on participants&rsquo / mood state and the contents of the apology messages.

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On the 12:th of April 2011, the Swedish tabloid magazine Expressen publishes a story, claiming that Ola Lindholm, presenter of critically acclaimed TV-show “Wild Kids” has been suspected and apprehended on cocaine allegations. The serious allegation called for Ola Lindholm to defend himself against the allegations. His only public response was a blog-post where he claimed his innocence, albeit with some reservations.   The purpose of this paper is to analyze Lindholm’s rhetorical defense. By applying Benoit’s theory of image restoration, the stasis theory and the rhetorical situation my goal is to find what strategies Lindholm’s defense consists of.   The analyses showed that Lindholm used four different kinds of image restoration strategies. The most salient strategies consisted of bolstering and attacking the accuser. By applying a proposition analysis it was possible to find textual themes used to either undermine the tabloid Expressen's credibility or to mitigate his own actions.   The results also point out that ethos and image restoration strategies are closely intertwined.

The advent of social media has provided an arena where barriers to entry are low. Individuals may persuade, question others and defend both their philosophies and their actions. This study examines the classic role of rhetorical criticism as it may apply in new media venues. A blog written by a public figure was examined through a synthesis of rhetorical criticism analyses derived from Ware and Linkugel, Vartabedian, and Downey. Four strategies and associated positioning in the practice of apologia were identified in selected blog posts, indicating the genre of apologia applies to social media apologies and extends the genre of apologia. Rhetorical criticism was found to be an effective tool in identifying rhetorical postures and strategies used in social media.