I found learning about the ethics concept of agency in the “Rhetorical Agency as Emergent and Enacted” reading interesting because of the exploration of how the concept has devolved in recent years. The author states that it’s important to have a sound sense of individual sense of agency in order to have sound rhetorical conversation. “Drawing on neurophenomenology, this essay defines individual agency as the process through which organisms create meanings through acting into the world and changing their structure in response to the perceived consequences of their actions.” (Cooper 420). If one is not able to properly change and adjust their actions and perceptions based on one another, no “good” will be had and no critical conversation or change will be made.
Reading about this concept made me think about a student group I was a part of. I was just a general member but the leadership team did not have a clear sense of agency and cohesion, and it felt like they didn’t really have a grip on how to keep the club going and its members engaged. After a while, more and more people started leaving, and the club leadership took no action because they had no sense of agency or judgment on how people felt about where the club was going.
Cooper, Marilyn M. "Rhetorical Agency as Emergent and Enacted"
Hi Keaton! You made great points about agency in this post. It is interesting to reflect on today's recent events of the BLM movement and abortion policies being shifted and how that influences agency/ having valuable conversation. I liked your example about group cohesion as it relates to individuals in a leadership position. If leaders are unable to have a sense of agency and cohesion, hearing each other out and respecting others' opinions, there will be no success in guiding a group. This summer I worked with two individuals in leadership positions who never could seem to see eye-to-eye. They never agreed on anything and made it super difficult to get work done. This lack of agency was frustrating and I felt like it held me back in the process.
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