Walter Fisher
From RhetorClick
Contents |
Biography
Walter Fisher attended the University of Iowa, where he earned his doctorate in communication studies. He focuses on rhetorical theory and criticism, political communication and argumentation. Fisher has been involved in the writing of five books and has written more than 40 articles and book chapters. He currently teaches at USC Annenberg School for Communication & Journalism[1].--Amber B. 09:59, 3 April 2012 (PDT)
Article Summaries
Fisher, Walter "Narration as a Human Communication Paradigm"
Briefly, Fisher's Narrative Paradigm was in opposition of what is called the Rational World Paradigm. The key points of both are summarized below for easy comparison.
- Rational World Paradigm:
- Humans are essentially rational beings
- The primary mode of human decision-making and communicating is rational argument
- Different rules apply in different fields: legal, scientific, legislative, public and so on
- Rationality is a function of subject-matter knowledge, argumentative ability, and skill in employing the rules of advocacy
- The world is a set of logical puzzles that can be solved through appropriate analysis and the application of reason.
- Fisher's Narrative Paradigm:
- Human beings are essentially storytellers
- The primary paradigm for human decision-making and communication is “good reasons”
- Good reasons are influenced by history, biography, culture, and character
- Rationality is determined by coherence, narrative probability and narrative fidelity
- The world is a set of stories from which people choose
Additional Works/ Publications
Books
Articles/Essays
Further Reading
Other Scholarly Views
Agreement
Those authors that agree with Fisher.
Opposition
Those authors that disagree with Fisher.
References
Fisher, Walter R. "Narration as a Human Communication Paradigm: The Case of Moral Public Argument." Professing the New Rhetorics: A Sourcebook. By Theresa Enos and Stuart C. Brown. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall, 1994. 374-96. Print.
