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The Rhetorical Phronimos: Political Wisdom In Postmodernity, Michael Bruner

Communication Faculty Publications

To formulate a contemporary conception of political wisdom, this essay combines recent philosophical attacks on the rational subject with Aristotle’s notion of phronesis, or “practical” wisdom. Aristotle maintained that the phronimos is one who, through virtuous character, negotiates the uncertain political realm through the wise use of the rhetorical arts. Modern and postmodern theories, however, have profoundly complicated notions of meaning, identity and rationality, hence conceptions of knowledge and virtuous character. After a review of some of these theories, the essay concludes with a brief re-articulation of phronesis as political wisdom.