Russell Kirk and the Rhetoric of Order Eric Grabowsky
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Duquesne University Duquesne Scholarship Collection Electronic Theses and Dissertations Summer 2010 Russell Kirk and the Rhetoric of Order Eric Grabowsky Follow this and additional works at: https://dsc.duq.edu/etd Recommended Citation Grabowsky, E. (2010). Russell Kirk and the Rhetoric of Order (Doctoral dissertation, Duquesne University). Retrieved from https://dsc.duq.edu/etd/595 This Immediate Access is brought to you for free and open access by Duquesne Scholarship Collection. It has been accepted for inclusion in Electronic Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Duquesne Scholarship Collection. For more information, please contact [email protected]. RUSSELL KIRK AND THE RHETORIC OF ORDER A Dissertation Submitted to the McAnulty College and Graduate School of Liberal Arts Duquesne University In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy By Eric Grabowsky August 2010 Copyright by Eric Grabowsky 2010 RUSSELL KIRK AND THE RHETORIC OF ORDER By Eric Grabowsky Approved July 9, 2010 ________________________________ ________________________________ Dr. Janie M. Harden Fritz Dr. Calvin Troup Associate Professor, Department of Associate Professor, Department of Communication & Rhetorical Studies Communication & Rhetorical Studies (Dissertation Director) (First Reader) ________________________________ ________________________________ Dr. Richard Thames Dr. Ronald C. Arnett, Chair Associate Professor, Department of Department of Communication & Communication & Rhetorical Studies Rhetorical Studies (Second Reader) ________________________________ Dr. Christopher M. Duncan, Dean McAnulty College and Graduate School of Liberal Arts iii ABSTRACT RUSSELL KIRK AND THE RHETORIC OF ORDER By Eric Grabowsky August 2010 Dissertation supervised by Dr. Janie M. Harden Fritz The corpus of historically-minded “man of letters” and twentieth century leader among conservatives, Russell Amos Kirk, prompts one to reflect upon a realist rhetoric of order for conservative discourse in particular and public argumentation in general. In view of building a realist rhetoric of order within the present spectrum of modern to postmodern thought, this dissertation project contains two related layers of study. At one level, the author both builds and departs from the realist approach to communicative epistemology known as “rhetorical perspectivism” toward a theoretical framework for the study of rhetoric that is based upon Aristotle and St. Thomas Aquinas’s legacy of classical realism. At another level, in light of the significance of Russell Kirk for the question of conservatism and postmodernism, from the vantage point of realism, the author considers Kirk’s view on imagination, language, and life as against certain aspects iv of Hans Georg Gadamer’s “philosophical hermeneutics.” This comparison, next to a rhetorical theoretical study of The Roots of American Order regarding the essential constancy of human nature as such through history, points to some avenues by which Kirk’s imaginative standpoint provides a way of taking the imagination as formative of communicative perspectives within and across “rhetorical situations.” For conservative discourse and beyond, within this age of epistemological skepticism and moral relativism, Kirk’s corpus provides for some ethical prospects for persuasion in terms of both argument and narrative, inclusive of the natural law as a basis for rhetorical ethics. In establishing parameters for a realist rhetoric of order, the author relies upon the work of Richard M. Weaver, who contributed to both movement conservatism and rhetorical theory during the twentieth century. In particular, the author embraces Weaver’s connecting of genuine conservatism to philosophical realism, notwithstanding some necessary correctives toward classical realism regarding reality and ideation. Although this project in large part operates within the realm of rhetorical theory, some implications for the practice, criticism, and pedagogy of rhetoric are highlighted along the way with respect to a realist rhetoric of order. v DEDICATION This dissertation is dedicated to my parents, Mr. Ralph E. Grabowsky and Mrs. Donna P. Grabowsky. Their prayers, guidance, and support along the way have provided for my completion of this project. vi ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would first like to acknowledge the perspicacity, professionalism, and patience of my Dissertation Director, Dr. Janie Harden Fritz, whose tremendous effort and ongoing encouragement helped to bring this dissertation to completion. Also, the scholarly insights of our two readers, Dr. Calvin Troup and Dr. Richard Thames, provided significant guideposts for the disciplinary direction of my work herein. For the big picture of my life as an academician, I must thank Dr. Ronald C. Arnett of the Department of Communication and Rhetorical Studies for his professional and academic mentorship during my years in coursework and as a graduate assistant. I am deeply thankful to Mrs. Annette Y. Kirk, widow of Russell A. Kirk, for granting to me a Wilbur Fellowship to reside and reflect (from September 2005 to May 2006) at the Russell Kirk Center for Cultural Renewal in Mecosta, Michigan. Conservations with Mrs. Kirk, who is the President of the Kirk Center, were always insightful at both the scholarly and personal levels. Mr. Charles C. Brown, Archivist of the Kirk Center, was also helpful in terms of conversational insights and scholarly resources. This fellowship opportunity at the Kirk Center supplied a framework of sources, conversations, presentations, and relationships that was of primary import to the development of this project. Of note here too for helpful promptings and insights are the following persons who also resided at the Kirk Center during my time there: Dr. Joseph Devaney, Dr. Matthew A. Kent, and Dr. Joseph Stuart. I must also here thank Dr. W. David Solomon, Director of the Notre Dame Center for Ethics and Culture, along with his staff and affiliates. Time spent with Dr. Solomon and company has introduced me to books, articles, and ideas that have been vii formative to my thinking as a realist scholar of rhetoric. Finally, I also want to acknowledge the following persons (in alphabetical order) who have given to me sources, insights, or encouragement (either directly or incidentally) that in some way or another have influenced my work within this dissertation project: Dr. Kenneth E. Andersen, Mr. Len Barcousky, Dr. Carole Barrett, Mr. Aaron Barth, Professor Jay Basquiat, Dr. Brian Birdnow, Mr. David Boaz, Dr. Thérèse Bonin, Mr. Derrick Braaten, Dr. James M. Brandon, Dr. Duane Bruce, Dr. Jon L. Brudvig, Professor Richard Cain, Dr. Gregory Camp, Mr. Chris Campbell (and his family and his friends), Dr. Boyd D. Cathey, Dr. Thomas A. Cavanaugh, Dr. Mark J. Cherry, Dr. Peter Chojnowski, Dr. Clifford G. Christians, Professor James Patrick Dimock, Dr. H. Tristram Engelhardt, Jr., Dr. Theresa Enos, Dr. Richard Fiordo, Fr. Benedict Fischer, Dr. Diane Fladeland, Mr. Dan Flaherty, Mr. Robert Gardner, Fr. Scott Gardner, Dr. Eugene Garver; Dr. Pat J. Gehrke, Dr. Gregory Gillette, Professor Charles Gitter, Dr. G. Thomas Goodnight, Mr. Lane Grafton, Mr. Robert W. Grano, Professor Wesley J. Hellman, Professor Joel L. Hefling, Dr. James W. Hikins, Mrs. Amorette Hinderaker, Dr. Joshua P. Hochschild, Dr. Todd T. Holm, Dr. Richard L. Johannesen, Dr. E. Michael Jones, Dr. A. Wesley Jones, Dr. Michael M. Jordan, Mr. Scott D. Kercher, Dr. Nadine I. Kozak, Professor Kristopher Kracht, Dr. Jim A. Kuypers, Dr. Chad Litton, Dr. Jeffrey J. Maciejewski, Dr. W. Wesley McDonald, Dr. Raymie E. McKerrow, Dr. Daniel McInerny, Dr. Ralph McInerny, Professor Jaime P. Meyer, Mr. David Mills, Dr. Robert C. Miner, Mr. Regis Moran, Mr. James Myler, Dr. Kathy Perrin, Dr. Ronald Polansky, Dr. Mark Joseph Porrovecchio, Dr. Lawrence J. Prelli, Mr. John Rau, Dr. Jamieson M. Ridenhour, Mrs. Suzanne M. Rini, Dr. Nita Ritzke, Dr. John Rodden, Mr. Gerald J. Russello, Professor Jeannine Saabye, Mr. Bob viii Sale, Professor Casey Slott, Dr. Ted J. Smith, III, Professor Karel Sovak, Dr. Mark M. Springer, Dr. Peter J. Stanlis, Professor Ashley B. Stark, Miss Melani Jean Trujillo, Mr. James Vogel, Mr. Anthony M. Wachs, Dr. Robert D. Weaver, Dr. Scott D. Wells, Dr. Dennis W. White, Mr. Gleaves Whitney, Dr. James Matthew Wilson, Mr. Harry Wisniewski, Mr. Daniel Yates, Miss Jacque L. Young, Dr. Kenneth S. Zagacki, and Dr. Cem Zeytinoglu. I end here with three special notes of acknowledgement. First, to my friend Mr. Jason Winschel, who introduced me to the work of Russell Kirk back in the 1990s before my time in graduate school, while also giving some initial conversational insights regarding Kirk, history, analysis, and argument when I began work on this project. Also, to Dr. Brent Sleasman, whose friendship, conversation, and encouragement since our days in coursework at Duquesne University have positively impacted both this project and my life. Finally, a special thanks to Dr. Leeanne M. Bell, who continued to check and encourage the progress of this project along the way. ix TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Abstract.............................................................................................................................. iv Dedication.......................................................................................................................... vi Acknowledgements........................................................................................................... vii