Response--Jerrell and Mary (edited)

Vico, Question 2: Vico’s importance as a rhetorical player

Vico separates knowledge into two categories: Scientific, or “exact” knowledge, which is gained through observation, and “probable” knowledge, which is carried through words.


Vico argues that the differences in rhetorical knowledge of respective languages is purely stylistic, and as such it would not be a threat to the distortion of truth (which is “probable” or “rhetorical” truth here) as much as it is an opportunity to understand how speakers of different languages may be appealed to. “While we Italians praise our orators for fluency, lucidity, and eloquence, the French praise theirs for reasoning truly” (874).


He also differs from Bacon in his theory of the relation of language to truth. Whereas Bacon claims that communication would be possible without language (through gestures), Vico says that language is indispensable for the spread of some types of knowledge—especially those that deal with “human nature” (742, 871).


The primary concern of Vico indeed seems to be understanding how language relates to the formation of knowledge, the primary goal of his work is an examination of the way his contemporaries had began to view rhetorical knowledge as insufficient in the age of hard truth and exact knowledge.



Locke, Question 2: What are the shortcomings of language?

Language (114 hits), Rhetoric (2 hits), Logic (31), Education (5), Perception (20)


Language is imperfect because ideas conveyed through language are entirely dependent on the experience of individuals. Hence, different people will define a word differently.


“I shall imagine I have done some Service to Truth, Peace, and Learning, if, by an enlargement on this Subject, I can make Men reflect on their own Use of Language ; and give them Reason to suspect, that since it is frequent for others, it may also be possible for them, to have sometimes very good and approved Words in their Mouths, and Writings, with very un-certain, little, or no Signification. And therefore it is not unreasonable for them to be wary herein themselves, and not to be unwilling to have them examined by others.” (Chapter 4—“Of the Names of Substances)


The imperfection of language can be overcome to some degree through the process of education. He only specifically refers to the idea once, but he makes a case for those who are educated to use language may be able to compensate for its arbitrariness.


“For we see, that other well- meaning and wise Men, whose Education and Parts had not acquir'd that acnteness, could intelligibly express themselves to one another ; and in its plain use, make a benefit of Language.”