Rhetorical discourse and poetic discourse are distinct and must be studied accordingly. Rhetorical discourse treats the world pragmatically, whereas poetic discourse contains an aspect of decoration. Murray Krieger, as a representative of the New Criticism, claims that rhetorical discourse dualizes and alienates man from his world but that poetic discourse provides a monistic experience because of its contemplative nature. However, this position is in error if Western rhetoric and logic (as pragmatic instruments of a world view) evolved from ancient mythologies and religions; that is, it is erroneous to view thought and speech as universals and to assume they have the same identity in all cultures. A more accurate intercultural view would leave rhetoric in its own cultural setting until the way it functions for a given people in a given culture is known. When fully analyzed, for example, the philosophies of Zoroastrianism, Buddhism, Hinduism, Taoism, Tao Teh King, the Upanishands and Mao would show how the Orientals maintain the doctrine of "not-self," reject duality, and treat speech and thought as intellectual additions to experience. (DS)