The Philosophy of Style

Name: The Philosophy of Style
Author: Herbert Spencer

By Herbert Spencer

Open in WeRead

Explore more books like this:

Essays, Letters & Speeches Language & Communication Philosophy & Ethics

About This Book

An analytical study of the sources of expressive power in language, arguing that economy of mental effort and of mental feeling explains why particular words, sentence arrangements, and figures of speech are effective. It formulates a general principle of economy and applies it to words, sentences, and rhetorical figures, treating suggestion and metaphor as means of compression. It then examines how attention and emotional rhythms produce effects such as climax, antithesis, anticlimax, and poetic force, and offers practical guidance linking psychological laws of perception and feeling to concrete choices in composition and the qualities of an ideal writer.

About the Author

Herbert Spencer

Herbert Spencer (1820-1903) was an English philosopher and sociologist known for his contributions to the development of social theory and evolutionary biology. He is often associated with the phrase "survival of the fittest," which he used to describe the process of natural selection. Spencer's works encompass a wide range of topics, including ethics, education, and the philosophy of science. His notable publications include "First Principles," where he outlines his philosophical framework, and "Essays on Education and Kindred Subjects," which reflects his views on the role of education in society. Spencer's ideas have had a lasting impact on both sociology and philosophy.