Communicative Engagement and Social Liberation: Justice Will Be Made recognizes limitations in contemporary understandings that separate history and rhetoric. Drawing together ontological and epistemic perspectives to allow for a fuller appreciation of communication in shaping lived-experience, facets of the two academic subjects are united in acts of communicative engagement.Communicative engagement draws from Anna-Teresa Tymieniecka’s writings on the human condition; extends the communicative praxis of philosopher Calvin O. Schrag by reuniting theoria-poíesis-praxis; expands Ramsey Eric Ramsey’s writings to provide ground for vitalizing social liberation; and includes the work of philosophers including Hans-Georg Gadamer, Maurice Merleau-Ponty, and Michel Foucault as well as philosophers of communication including Lenore Langsdorf, Michael J. Hyde, Corey Anton, and others who guide a recollection of the significance of poíesis in human communication. Myrtilla Miner, Mary White Ovington, and Jessie Daniel Ames dedicated their lives to being out-of-place and speaking out-of-turn to alter the way humanity was understood by members of society at large. The lived-experiences of these historical figures assists readers in recognizing how creativity (poíesis) can potentially enable liberation from restrictive social circumstances.
Pat Arneson is associate professor of communication and rhetorical studies at Duquesne University.
Professor Arneson is gifted with an exceptionally keen analytic eye and a creative mind. These talents are obvious as she eloquently integrates teachings in philosophy, communication ethics, and rhetorical theory to explore with the help of marvelous case studies the social injustice of racism.
