Narrative fallacies: An analysis of narrative as a mode of argumentative proof in contemporary American political rhetoric

Michael Maione, Purdue University

Abstract

Narrative, though a crucial process by which we interpret the meaning of events and communicate with one another, has come under increasing criticism as to its merit as a mode of argumentative proof. This project situates itself by contrasting Walter Fisher's proposal that narrative is the fundamental human communicative paradigm with Nassim Taleb's rejection of narrative as an analytical tool. It is my contention that because narrative is both fundamental as well as flawed the best way to process is to endeavor to improve narrative as a mode of argumentative proof. This project develops a concept of narrative fallacies to maintenance our storytelling capacity to run parallel to the informal logical fallacies that maintenance our rational capacity. Narrative fallacies are patterns of story that appeal to one's desire as to what stories should be by imposing expectations of fictional stories on historical ones. Such fallacies are further grouped by the certain aspect of a story (e.g. protagonist, climax, economy, denouement etc.) that they emphasize. Drawing on examples from the political arena in which political actors construct and consume stories to foster understanding of their political reality and achieve their persuasive goals, this project proposes a preliminary typography of narrative fallacies. The goal of this typography is to begin a conversation that focuses on how the features of fictional stories come to be expected of stories in the political arena. Finally, this project examines one particular case-study—that of narrative destiny. I propose that narrative destiny imposes the expectation of a strong positive climactic outcome on historical stories and may thus be identified as fallacious. Destiny throughout American history and as a pattern of life-story is considered, and the case of Newt Gingrich's 2012 political campaign in particular is used as an example of how the concept of narrative fallacious can be applied in the field.

Degree

M.A.

Advisors

Clair, Purdue University.

Subject Area

Rhetoric

COinS