"Definition of [Hu]man" (Burke 1968)

Action

- Involves character, which involves choice - and the form of choice attains its perfection in the distinction between yes and no (shall and shall-not, will and will-not) - implies the ethical, human personality

Inventor of the negative (or moralized by the negative) means...

- nature just is, there is no is not - man tells us the difference between "it is" and "it is not" this develops "shall" and "shall not" (creates a hierarchy which then creates morality) - with out the negative we cant have language because language is ironic, it is a metaphor, not literal - "We cannot use language maturely until we are spontaneous at home in irony" - creates expectation saying "I'm gonna mow the lawn" and not actually doing it makes someone think you're going to - squirrel example

Rotten with perfection means...

- people see hierarchy and logically always want to be at the top. Seek perfection which makes us unhappy - Burke believed this leads to a cycle of sin and redemption

Man is symbol-using (symbol-making, symbol-misusing) animal means...

- ultimate point: symbols create our reality - the symbols we have allow us to see and also block things in the world - words limit what we communicate and that is how they use us - words we have affect perception we have of the world, essentially words guide the way we think

Separated from his natural condition by instruments of his own making means...

- we are naturally born w/o symbols - once language is acquired you can't go back to being a non-symbolic being - humans are reflexive. We name words about words. Defining human is a reflexive act - can't develop tools until you develop symbolic means of conception - symbols are tools that allow us to conceive other things (like other more complicated words) w/o this we can't do other stuff - we create our own language and symbols

What are the five clauses of Burke's definition?

1. Man is symbol using (symbol-making, symbol-misusing) animal 2. Inventor of the negative (or moralized by the negative) 3. Separated from his natural condition by instruments by his own making 4. Goaded by a spirit of hierarchy (or moved by a sense of order) 5. Rotten with perfection

What is the sixth clause of Burke's definition?

Acquiring foreknowledge of death, meaning that we as humans know that life is eventually going to end

What does "entelechial" mean?

Following things to their logical conclusion.

Goaded by a spirit of hierarchy (or moved by a sense of order) means...

People always want power and to rise up

Motion

is non-ethical, "is", instinctual (you don't have to think about it) ex. breathing and digesting