Entry 2 (From week 4 of Class)

1. Hauser introduces the notion that humans act with language and on page 204 of Introduction to Rhetorical Theory, states that we possess an identity which is developed through symbolic acts of criticism and encouragement. His entire paragraph reads;
“It is not absurd to say that Mother’s negatives invented us! As social actors, we possess an identity that has developed through symbolic acts of criticism and encouragement. ‘Shall – shall not’ serve the hortatory or inciting functions of urging us to make some choices and avoid others, but these choices themselves are open to criticism. The use of the negative to criticize anchors our mortality as ethical creatures in our ability to use symbols.”
Assuming for all intensive purposes that the above statement is true, what extreme criticism or encouragement do you believe mass murderers receive as small children that motivates their irrational behavior as adults? Moreover, do you believe observing the early communication patters of people like; Seung-Hui Cho, who violently killed 32 people at Virginia Polytechnic Institute on April 16, 2007, is an effective way to understand their actions?

2. On page 208, Hauser gives a definition for a model stating that “a model is a conceptual structure that shows the interrelationships among relevant elements of some phenomenon of study.” Usually when providing a definition, Hauser provides some kind of background story to make it easier to understand, however, he does not in this case. Can you come up with an example that will make this definition a little easier to understand?

3. On page 212-213, Hauser lays out the four main points about Rhetoric and Motives. First, rhetoric is an essential function of language. Second, rhetoric is a use of language. Third, rhetoric is a symbolic means of inducing cooperation, and forth, rhetoric is directed to beings that by nature respond to symbols. In your opinion, which of these is the most important in motivating language and why?