![]() ![]() ![]() Second, Ellul points out that persuasion is based on emotion and irrationality. Ellul's contribution to rhetorical theory lies in his understanding that persuasion does not occur in a single isolated instance but in a whole social, cultural, and technological framework of society. Those responsible for public discussion of issues, such as the media systems and the government, now use the techniques of propaganda to override rational discourse and critical thinking. According to this theory, "la technique" has invaded the realm of politics and persuasion. For Ellul, technology itself is merely an example of the problem rather than the problem itself. It is the technological mindset, he argues, that disrupts human reflectivity and the quality of human life. Ellul is known for his searing attack on the technological mindset, "la technique," which he argues is a self-directing and self-augmenting entity. Of interest to students of rhetorical criticism, Ellul does divide propaganda into political and sociological types. ![]() Ellul's interest in these areas is evident in "Propaganda: The Formation of Men's Attitudes" (1965) and "The Humiliation of the Word" (1985). Less well known is Ellul's deep interest in human life. Jacques Ellul is widely known among sociologists and philosophers in the West for his analyses of the impact technology has on human society and humans themselves. ![]()
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