Rhetoric Unlobotomized: Transformation of Terministic Screens (Part 2 of 3 in the Rhetoric Series)

Abstract

Historically, rhetoric as an art has been considered both weak and nefarious. The authors, in a three part series on rhetoric, describe the "lobotomization" of rhetoric, its true power, and its applications with individuals and organizations. The second part of this paper covers the nature of humans and their relationship with language, including the automatic formation of two parts of the rhetorical person: character armor (or identity) and terministic screens (or webs of words). Character armor is how we want others to see us, while terministic screens is the means through which we see the world. This paper sets the stage for viewing organizations in rhetorical terms, which is the topic of the third paper.

Keywords: Rhetoric, Corporate Culture, Leadership, Organizational Behavior, Organizational Change

JEL Classification: D23, M14