Full Description
Designed to introduce students to the academic discipline of Communication, this text describes the scope and methods of communication studies, and sketches its history from the work of the early sophists to contemporary research efforts. "Boxing Plato's Shadow" helps explain why, despite its long and venerable history of scholarly endeavor, Communication continues to struggle for recognition of its legitimate place in the academy. Throughout, the authors emphasize the field's durability over more than two millennia and the merits of multiple systematic approaches to the study of communication.
Contents
Chapter 1. The Beginning of Communication Study A Market for Communication Knowledge and Skill The Sophists Plato's Shadow Aristotle's Resolution Boxing Plato's Shadow Contributions of Plato and Socrates to the Study of Communication Chapter 2. Communication Study from Aristotle's Time to the 20th Century Rhetoric in Egypt and Rome Rhetoric in Christian Europe The Contribution of the Moors Humanism, the Renaissance, and the Printing Press The Enlightenment and the Modern Concept of Communication New Relevance for Rhetoric in England and the New World Elocution A Changing Academic World and the Birth of a New Discipline Chapter 3. Humanistic Study of Communication in the 20th Century Rhetorical Scholarship and the Practical Art of Speech The Neo-Aristotelian Approach The Limitations of Neo-Aristotleian Rhetorical Scholarship The Neo-Aristotelian Legacy New Foundations for Contemporary Rhetorical Scholarship Rhetorical Scholarship Today Chapter 4. The Emerging Social Science of Communication Study The Nature of Social Science Foundations of Social Science and Communication Study in the 19th Century Early Scientific Study of Communication: Early 1900s through the 1940s The Scientific Study of Communication from the 1940's to the Present Chapter 5. Challenges Facing Social Scientists Challenges Facing Humanist Scholars The Challenge of Changing Technology Areas of Specialization in Communication Research Communication Study as Interdisciplinary Scholarship Enduring Issues Confronting the Field Communication Study and YouNER(01): WOW
