The Uncertain People

Robert L. Scott's article, "On Viewing Rhetoric As Epistemic" makes one thing abundantly clear, people are uncertain. His final paragraph appears to claim that rhetoric is a result of this uncertainty and is a very strong necessity. There is no stronger example of this need for rhetoric as a presidential election.

Whether it's Frost's path that is less traveled by, every character in a horror movies' regretted, "I'll be right back" or it's the undecideds of any Presidential election, if all people were certain these dilemmas wouldn't occur.

As Scott points out,

"The point of view that holds that man cannot be certain but must act in the face of uncertainty to create situational truth entails three ethical guidelines: toleration, will, and responsibility... If one can be certain, then one needs no commands or urgings (either from oneself or from others) to act. Failure to act can only be a sign of a momentary misunderstanding or of a flawed intellect." (Scott 16)

An example of acting in a state of uncertainty in order to create a situational truth within an election campaign is the video, "Absolutely Uncertain."



In an attempt to determine a truth, whether President Obama is in fact supportive of Israel and if his re-election will benefit Israel, the above video examines the history of Israel's political and social turmoil as well as the President's involvement with the country. Irina, the 23-year-old politically liberal, Jewish, and resident of New York featured in the video, recognizes that she must act while in a state of uncertainty. As all humans, she will always be uncertain. The video itself, "Absolutely Uncertain," is a result and an example of how people struggle with their need to act while being in a state of uncertainty. The rhetorical devices utilized throughout the video are examples of how rhetoric is useful in guiding one another and ourselves to create situational truths.