Foss defines rhetoric with primary dimensions: 1) humans as the creators of rhetoric; 2) symbols as the medium for rhetoric; and 3) communication as the purpose for rhetoric.
He talks about how humans are the only animals capable of using symbols to view the world. One of his main points is that rhetoric refers to the use of symbols rather than signs. Rhetoric is not limited to just speaking and writing (body language, dance, poetry, etc). He also talks about how learning about rhetoric makes us more sophisticated.
