Den mytiska argumentationsbasen. Roland Barthes mytbegrepp i retorisk argumentationsteori

Abstract

To understand the function of standpoints and arguments we need to analyze their basis, which means the socially and symbolically constructed foundation of knowledge, that in a specific situation forms the frame of reference when symbolic utterances are interpreted and new knowledge and new standpoints are evaluated. To make the function of this basis for argumentation visible we can use Roland Barthes semiological theory of myths and thereby view argumentation as a mythical rather than logical enterprise. In this article, the concept of myth is discussed in relation to other central concepts in ­rhetoric, such as doxa, topos and narrative. I illustrate the way myth oriented rhetorical criticism could be performed through an example analysis of the rhetorical strategies of the Moderate party in the Swedish election campaign of 2006