Kenneth Burke's Systemless System: Using Pepper to Pigeonhole an Elusive Thinker
Keywords
Kenneth Burke, Systemless System, World Hypotheses, literary criticism
Abstract
This article illustrates a method -- using Pepper's World Hypotheses to isolate the assumptions of often-perplexing thinkers such as Burke--and demonstrate the usefulness and limitations of that method. Focusing on Burke's literary criticism, it approaches him first through his own categories, then relates those to Pepper's schema, to find his root metaphor and the resulting principles, methods, and interpretations of his criticism, along with the major strengths, weaknesses, and affinities of his system of thought. Though some have accused Burke of being irrational or fragmentary in his writings, his thought is actually a very thorough and consistent, even creative ,contextualism. In fact, his literary criticism anticipated poststructuralist issues.
Original Publication Citation
"Kenneth Burke's Systemless System." Journal of Mind and Behavior 3 (Autumn 1982): 323‑336.
BYU ScholarsArchive Citation
Duerden, Richard Y., "Kenneth Burke's Systemless System: Using Pepper to Pigeonhole an Elusive Thinker" (1982). Faculty Publications. 8065.
https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/facpub/8065
Document Type
Peer-Reviewed Article
Publication Date
1982
Language
English
College
Humanities
Department
English
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