The document summarizes the Narrative Paradigm theory proposed by Fisher. It discusses that the theory views people as storytelling creatures that comprehend life as ongoing narratives. The Narrative Paradigm sees narration as the basis for human communication and assumes people make decisions based on "good reasons" that vary by context. It also critiques the theory for being overly optimistic that people naturally prefer truths.

1. Narrative Paradigm
Steven Smith
& Brittani Hunter

2. Main Idea: People are story telling
creatures.
“We experience and comprehend
life as a series of ongoing
narratives, as
conflicts, characters, beginnings, m
iddles, and ends.”

3. • Fisher defines “Narration” as
“symbolic actions—words and/or
deeds—that have sequence &
meaning for those who
live, create, or interpret them”
• Views narration as the basis of all
human communication.

4. “Paradigm” is defined as “a
conceptual framework; a universal
model that calls for people to view
events through common
interpretive lens.”

5. Rational Paradigm
• Assumes that…
– People are essentially rational.
– We make decisions on the basis of arguments.
– The type of speaking situation
(legal, scientific, legislative) determines the course
of our argument.
– Rationality is determined by how much we know
and how well we argue.
– The world is a set of logical puzzles that we can
solve through rational analysis.

6. Rational Paradigm (cont’d)
• Suggests that logic is privileged over
emotion.
• Empiricism reigns.
• Rise of technological experts.
• Logos is reduced to “philosophical
discourse & statements.”

7. Narrative Paradigm Assumptions
• People are storytellers.
• We make decisions based on good reasons, which
vary depending on the communication context &
medium.
• History, biography, culture, and character
determine what we consider good reasons.
• Narrative rationality is determined by the
coherence and fidelity of our stories.
• The world is a set of stories from which we
choose.

8. Narrative coherence: internal
consistency in the story; the story
hangs together.
Narrative fidelity: the compatibility
between the values in a message and
what listeners consider truthful and
humane; “story strikes a responsive
chord”.

9. Narrative rationality: A way to evaluate the
worth of stories based on narrative
coherence and narrative fidelity.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6rPFvLUWkzs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WO8imsZl1F8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ilJQsBLAIE0

10. Critique of Fisher
Critics of the Narrative Paradigm claim that
Fisher is overly optimistic in his view that
people have a natural tendency to prefer
the true and just.