Weaponized rhetoric: cognitive struggle in the contemporary media space Cover Image

Retoryka uzbrojona: walka o świadomość we współczesnej przestrzeni medialnej
Weaponized rhetoric: cognitive struggle in the contemporary media space

Author(s): Cezar Ornatowski
Subject(s): Politics / Political Sciences, Sociology
Published by: Polskie Towarzystwo Retoryczne
Keywords: weaponized rhetoric;influence;cognitive security;information warfare;

Summary/Abstract: Weaponized rhetoric designates a contest for influence in cognitive space, conducted through symbols. Weaponized rhetoric is both a substitute for war and a new method of warfare. Weaponized rhetoric goes beyond persuasion, argumentation, or propaganda in their traditional senses. The main tools of weaponized rhetoric are narrative, action, and image. Politics today begins to resemble information warfare, while the notion of security (national, personal) becomes equated with cognitive security. The highest prize and stake in this warfare is reputation and its correlate: legitimation. These developments constitute a challenge to rhetorical (and citizenship) education.

  • Issue Year: 8/2021
  • Issue No: 4
  • Page Range: 14-39
  • Page Count: 26
  • Language: Polish