Unruly Examples

On the Rhetoric of Exemplarity

Bibliographic Data

ID2686178
AuthorsAlexander Gelley
Year1995
Publication date1995-10-01
Open AccessNo
TypeBOOK
VenueUnruly Examples (SOURCE_BOOK)
PublisherStanford University Press (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1515/9781503615533
OpenAlexW4207062569
ISBN9781503615533
LanguageEN
Citations received28

In "Unruly Examples: On the Rhetoric of Exemplarity," Alexander Gelley explores the complex and often paradoxical role of examples in rhetorical discourse. He argues that examples, while seemingly straightforward illustrations of a general principle, possess an inherent instability that can challenge and even subvert the very arguments they are meant to support. Gelley examines a wide range of examples, from literary texts and philosophical treatises to political speeches and legal arguments, demonstrating how examples can function as both proof and provocation. He analyzes the rhetorical strategies used to manage the unruly nature of examples, including techniques of generalization, qualification, and contextualization. The book ultimately offers a nuanced understanding of the dynamic interplay between general principles and specific instances, highlighting the crucial role of exemplarity in shaping knowledge, belief, and action

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