Cette étude est consacrée à la critique contemporaine occidentale de la rhétorique initiée par la critique nietzschéenne de la philosophie métaphysique. La rhétorique se présente comme une remise en cause et une ré-vision profonde et radicale de la nature du langage lui-même, et par la suite, de tous les aspects de la vie sociale et culturelle. Cette étude traite principalement de la pensée rhétorique chez quatre penseurs, Jacques Derrida, Michel Foucault, Paul de Man and Roland Barthes. Dans leurs héritage commun et leur critique de l'approche critique nietzschéenne, ils ont mis en lumière une double nature de la rhétorique : celle-ci non seulement caractérise le mécanisme de la métaphysique, mais aussi conduit tout usage du langage, y compris le discours critique, à un « piège » de déconstruction. Dans leur exposition de la nature et du mécanisme de la rhétorique, ils ont consacré leurs efforts, d'une part, à la réfutation d'une conception aristotélicienne du langage et de la rhétorique; et d'autre part, à une critique d'un certain aveuglement dont faisaient preuve les critiques de la métaphysique. Leur pensée critique sur la rhétorique se résume alors à deux questions: qu'est-ce que la nature de la rhétorique et à partir de là, du langage ? Comment la pensée critique — sur celle-ci et avec celle-ci — est-elle possible ? S’engageant dans une double tâche — une critique (démystification) et une auto-critique — la pensée critique se transforme alors à une « critique de la critique » en tant qu'une réflexion sur la limite de la pensée critique elle-même. C'est-à-dire, une critique — dans le sens kantien du mot — de l'[im]possibilité de la pensée rationnelle. Notre étude se concentre alors sur deux points : premièrement, la nature de la rhétorique telle que l'expose chacun de ces penseurs depuis sa propre perspective intellectuelle. Deuxièmement, la stratégie critique proposée et employée par chacun d'entre eux. / This thesis is a study of the contemporary Western critical approach to the problem of rhetoric pioneered by Nietzsche, in which rhetoric presents itself as a profound and radical questioning as well as a re-vision of the nature of language itself, and consequently of all aspects of social and cultural life. This study mainly addresses the rhetorical thinking of four critics — Jacques Derrida, Michel Foucault, Paul de Man and Roland Barthes — who, in their common inheritance from and critique of Nietzsche’s own critical approach, have revealed a dual-nature of rhetoric which not only characterizes the mechanism of metaphysics, but also inevitably enmeshes all human thinking — including critical thinking — in a trap of deconstruction. This double-edged character of rhetoric sets a dual-task for critical thinking: an endless criticism [demystification] and self-criticism. Critical thinking thus turns out to be a “critique of criticism” as a reflection on the limit of critical thinking itself, that is, a critique — in the Kantian sense of the word — of the [im]possibility of rational thinking. Accordingly, this study focuses on two points: firstly, the dual-nature of rhetoric as expounded by each one of the critics from his specific intellectual perspective; secondly, the strategy for critical thinking proposed and employed by each of them.

Cette étude propose une exploration des stylèmes récurrents dans les écrits de Leibniz, dédiés aux thèmes de la théodicée. L’analyse répond à une triple exigence : répertorier les stylèmes leibniziens les plus fréquents, en retracer les sources et les modèles pour ainsi identifier leur fonction logique et leur rôle architectonique à l’intérieur des structures textuelles. L’étude est articulée selon trois grands chapitres qui correspondent aux différentes phases génétiques marquant l’évolution de la réflexion leibnizienne sur ces thèmes et, corrélativement, aux trois ordres de phénomènes stylistiques avec lesquels l’analyse textuelle a coutume de se confronter : les champs notionnels et sémantiques ainsi que les figures microstructurales et macrostructurales. Parallèlement, cette recherche entreprend une critique de la littérature dédiée à la tropologie leibnizienne. L’idée centrale de ce travail – qui se détache méthodologiquement de la discipline appelée Literature&Science autant qu’il se détache des présuposés théoriques admis par G.G. Granger dans son Essai d’un philosophie du style – est d’emprunter les techniques analytiques utilisées dans le champs de la stylistique littéraire pour révéler les structures sous-jacentees à l’architecture des textes leibniziens. L’enquête, conduite à partir de ces présuposés, a permis de contribuer à éclaircir certains des problématiques de la philosophie leibnizienne les plus débattues par la critique, notamment la supposée adhésion du jeune Leibniz au volontarisme, l’interprétation de la célèbre image des deux labyrinthes et certaines oscillations théoriques persistantes dans les écrits de théodicée de l’âge mature. / This thesis offers a systematic exploration of the recurring stylemes in Leibniz’ works wich are dedicated to the theodicy topics.The analysis answers to a triple requirement: to catalogue the most frequent stylemes; to track the fonts and patterns out of them and to identify their logical function and architectonic role within the text structures.The study is set up in three main chapters, which correspond to the three different phases in the evolution of Leibniz’s thought, likewise to the three orders of stylistics phenomena which the text analytics usually confronts with: semantic and notion fields and macro-level and micro-level figures. In parallel, the research conducts a critical confront with the literature dedicated to Leibniz tropology,The central idea of this study – which distances itself methodologically from the discipline called Literature&Science as much as from the theoretical presuppositions endorsed by G.G. Granger in his Essai d’une philosophie du style (1968) – is to borrow the analytic techniques used in the literary stylistics field in order to disclose the structures which are subjacent to Leibniz texts’ architecture. The research based on such assumption contributed to clarify some core issues of Leibniz philosophy among the most frequently debated by critics: the supposed adhesion of young Leibniz to voluntarism, the interpretation of two the labyrinths and certain theoretical persistent oscillations in the theodicy writings of maturity period.

Si nos théories physiques peuvent décrire les traits les plus généraux de la réalité, on sait aussi que pour le faire, elles utilisent le langage des mathématiques. On peut alors légitimement se demander si notre capacité à décrire, sinon la nature intime des objets et phénomènes physiques, du moins les relations et structures qu’ils instancient, ne vient pas de cette application des mathématiques. Dans cette thèse, nous soutenons que les mathématiques sont si efficacement applicables en physique tout simplement parce que la réalité décrite par les physiciens est de nature quantitative. Pour cela, nous proposons d’abord une ontologie des quantités, puis des lois de la nature, qui s’inscrit dans les débats contemporains sur la nature des propriétés (théorie des universaux, théorie des tropes, ou nominalisme), et des lois (régularités, ou relations entre universaux). Ensuite, nous examinons deux sortes d’application des mathématiques : la mathématisation des phénomènes par la mesure, puis la formulation mathématique des équations reliant des grandeurs physiques. Nous montrons alors que les propriétés et les lois doivent être comme notre ontologie les décrit, pour que les mathématiques soient légitimement, et si efficacement, applicables. L’intérêt de ce travail est d’articuler des discussions purement ontologiques (et très anciennes, comme la querelle des universaux) avec des exigences épistémologiques rigoureuses qui émanent de la physique actuelle. Cette articulation est conçue de manière transcendantale, car la nature quantitative de la réalité (des propriétés et des lois) y est défendue comme condition d’applicabilité des mathématiques en physique. / Assuming that our best physical theories succeed in describing the most general features of reality, one can only be struck by the effectiveness of mathematics in physics, and wonder whether our ability to describe, if not the very nature of physical entities, at least their relations and the fundamental structures they enter, does not result from applying mathematics. In this dissertation, we claim that mathematical theories are so effectively applicable in physics merely because physical reality is of quantitative nature. We begin by displaying and supporting an ontology of quantities and laws of nature, in the context of current philosophical debates on the nature of properties (universals, classes of tropes, or even nominalistic resemblance classes) and of laws (as mere regularities or as relations among universals). Then we consider two main ways mathematics are applied: first, the way measurement mathematizes physical phenomena, second, the way mathematical concepts are used to formulate equations linking physical quantities. Our reasoning has eventually a transcendental flavor: properties and laws of nature must be as described by the ontology we first support with purely a priori arguments, if mathematical theories are to be legitimately and so effectively applied in measurements and equations. What could make this work valuable is its attempt to link purely ontological (and often very ancient) discussions with rigorous epistemological requirements of modern and contemporary physics. The quantitative nature of being (properties and laws) is thus supported on a transcendental basis: as a necessary condition for mathematics to be legitimately applicable in physics.

This is a systematic study of tropes of the Holy Qur`an, divided into four chapters… The first chapter is entitled: “An historical review of rhetoric and stylistics” and it consists of two sections; the first section is entitled: “Western rhetoric and stylistics” where as the second section deals with “Arabic rhetoric and stylistics”. The second chapter is entitled: “Tropes and their components” and it consists of two sections; the first section is entitled: “the definition of tropes”. This section deals with the definition of “literal expressions” and “figurative expressions”, and the required condition for figurative expressions; that is the syntactical and semantic coherence and relationships. The second section is entitled: “Components of tropes” which deals with different components of tropes. The third chapter is entitled: “Linguistic tropes of the Holy Qur`an” and it consists of two sections; the first section is entitled: “The spread of linguistic tropes in the Holy Qur`an”. The second section is entitled: “Relationship of linguistic tropes in the Holy Qur`an”. This section quotes each and every relationship of linguistic tropes in the Holy Qur`an. The fourth chapter is entitled: “mental tropes in the Holy Qur`an”, and it consists of three sections; the first section is entitled: “Mental tropes in the Holy Qur`an, from part 1 to part 10”. The second section is entitled: “Mental tropes in the Holy Qur`an, from part 11 to part 20”, and the third section is entitled: “Mental tropes in the Holy Qur`an, from part 21 to part 30”. These sections quote verses of the Holy Qur`an which contain mental tropes. / Religious Studies and Arabic / Psychology

The diploma thesis focuses on work with poem mostly in lessons concerning reading and literary education and also cross-curricular usage of it in elementary school. The theoretical part is dealing with findings from the field of literary theory and didactics focusing on work with poetic text, its basic terms and poetic tools. There is also a brief development of Czech authorial poetry and reference to folk´s literature. The questionnaires of the research part are focused on usage of poetic texts in teaching in elementary school, the attention is especially put on the way how it can be applied and the degree of its application. The practical part offers a database of activities for work with poem and samples of handouts which were verified by pupils of elementary school. Methodical double-sheet for teachers is attached to the handouts for pupils.

Christianity is not anti-intellectual; however, there is a distinct quality of anti-intellectualism in the rhetoric of the Christian Right. This thesis explores the ways in which rhetors in the Christian Right encourage anti-intellectual sentiment without explicitly claiming to be against intellectualism. I argue that the Christian Right makes these anti-intellectual arguments by invoking the tropes and topoi of populism, anti-evolution, and common sense. I analyze how Pat Robertson, as a representative of the Christian Right, used the stock argument, or topos, of populism in his 1986 speech, in which he announced his intention to run for President. I argue that while Robertson used the generic argumentative framework of populism, which is "anti-elitist," he shifted the meaning of the word "elitist" from a wealthy person to an intellectual person. This formed a trope, or turn in argument. Next, I consider the Christian Right's argument against the teaching of evolution. I analyze William J. Bryan's argument in the Scopes Trial, a defining moment in the creation-evolution debate. I show that Bryan used the topos of creationism, which included the loci of quality and order, to condemn the teaching of evolution, arguing that it would be better to not have education at all than for students to be taught something that contradicts the Bible. Finally, I consider how both Ronald Reagan and Sarah Palin used the topos of common sense. Reagan used this topos to create a metaphorical narrative that was to be accepted as reality, or common sense. Sarah Palin, then, used the common sense narrative that Reagan had created to support her views. By calling her ideas "common sense" and frequently referencing Reagan, her rhetoric gives the illusion that good governing is simple, thus removing the space for an intellectual in public life.

Nürnberg, Univ., Diss.--Erlangen, 2002.

This research examined the language used by higher education development professionals, specifically similar and dissimilar tropes and how they shape the perception of those development professionals. By studying these linguistic devices, insight is provided into this particular occupation and the effects these devices have on perceptions and interpretation. The findings in this study could help to produce more skilled communicators in the field and could be used as a framework to study other professional positions. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to gather data from twelve participants, and the data was then analyzed through thematic analysis. Findings revealed the types of metaphors used by higher education fundraisers and if and how they shaped their perceptions of the profession. Findings also showed what contradictions, paradoxes, and ironies are found in the field and if and how they shaped perceptions of the profession. This study applies theoretical aspects of organizational communication to the field of higher education development presenting new data. This study also provides practical implications for those currently in the field to consider.

Th. doct.--Informatique--Grenoble 1, 1995. / Bibliogr. p. 285-295. Résumé en anglais et en français. 1996 d'après la déclaration de dépôt légal.

This thesis focuses on a close analysis of A.L. Kennedy's fictional work, both novels and short stories, examining the author’s portrayals of love and placing them in a cultural and historical context. Kennedy's fiction invariably centres on the complex nature of human relationships, with protagonists frequently placed in an isolated situation (physically, mentally, or both) and yearning for some deep emotional connection, through love or sex, to form a link with the world which surrounds them. This thesis pays close attention to character and plot development, use of language and connections between Kennedy's texts, alongside a discussion of various sociological, philosophical or psychological works which tie Kennedy's fiction to both current and historical analyses of sexual behaviour, love and gender relationships. Different aspects of love and relationships are explored within each chapter, divided as follows: Belonging, Identity, Place – examining how far and how useful it is to view Kennedy as a Scottish writer, going on to explore how notions of place and belonging affect her characters, beginning with the body-as-place and working outwards, through contrasting urban and rural locations to return to questions of nation, and how a sense of belonging can enhance the feeling of connectedness central to love. Sex and Violence – analysing the relationship between sex and violence and questioning whether the two are opposing or may actually stem from the same desire to reconnect with the body and thus link the body more closely to the mind, whilst simultaneously connecting with others. Unity and Isolation – more closely examining this powerful conflict within Kennedy's work; the fear of being alone and the opposing fear of losing one's individuality, one's self, through being open with and giving love to another, and exploring how such conflict may be resolved. Desire and Addiction – exploring the relationship between desire and addiction and considering whether the terms can be interchangeable, and which of Kennedy's characters may be considered desiring or addicted. Ultimately this chapter argues that while desire and addiction may have similarities, desire itself is more desirable, because it relies upon some degree of connection not necessary within addiction. Trauma, 'Madness' – examining the boundaries between trauma and the concept of 'madness', this chapter argues the possibility that many of Kennedy's characters could be seen as traumatised in one way or another, and looks at how this may affect their ability to love, and their attitudes towards it. Romance – attempting to place a definition of romance within the context of British fiction, this chapter considers the development of the romantic narrative, including contemporary 'Chick-Lit', to argue that it is possible to view Kennedy herself as a romantic writer, given the questing nature of her fictions and the love towards which her characters ultimately strive. Within Kennedy's writing there is a contradiction expressed in the portrayal of characters simultaneously desperate for love and fighting against the loss of their (often miserable) individuality. The purpose throughout these chapters is to emphasise the many elements which can constitute the notion of 'love', and the ways in which these can either threaten or enhance the development of a sense of self, through developing connection with another. The aim of this research is to provide a new perspective on Kennedy's work, acknowledging the somewhat bleak nature of her writing but examining more specifically the romantic attitudes expressed within her fiction, the manner in which she explores the boundaries between realism and the concept of romance, and the question of whether she may be defined as a romantic writer, which will draw upon the history of romantic literary tropes and structures.