Baltasar Gracián: verdad y retruécano

Abstract

This work deals with the conflictive interaction between Philosophy and Rhetoric throughout the history of Western thought. It identifies and explains three moments of interpretation which are called “interpretative crisis” (Gorgias’ epoque, Dante’s epoque and Baroque spanish critique). It certainly aims to criticize the somewhat secondary status of Rhetoric, considered by academic philosophy as an “ornamental” discipline. Lastly, it tends to prove than most concepts and forms of argumentative thought have an originally rhetoric background.