Bortom den vackra stilen : Chaiˆm Perelman och Quentin Skinner om politisk retorik

Författare

• Kai Paajaste
• Mikael Nygård

Abstract

The objective of this study is to discuss the connections between rhetoric and political theory and to evaluate the applicability of rhetorical approaches in political analysis. First, we describe the main phases of the rhetorical turn in order to understand the contemporary rehabilitated position of rhetoric. Second, we distinguish some of the main characteristics of Chaïm Perelman’s and Quentin Skinner’s rhetorical views. Third, we try to investigate the compatibility and validity of these characteristics for political analysis. The main finding of the study is that Perelman’s and Skinner’s contributions to the rhetorical turn are both valid and useful for political analysis, because they present a fruitful linguistic approach to political phenomena and reflect an ontology that corresponds to the ’Weberian’ view of social action and legitimatisation.