Rhetoric 1 Flashcards
Rhetoric
The art of persuasion. Aristotle defines it as “the faculty of observing in any given case the available means of persuasion” (1355b).
In other words, it is the ability to know (and if necessary use) the means of persuasion in whatever situation you are in.
Rhetor
A speaker. “A person who persuades through lanague, either spoken or written.”
Dialectic
A back-and-forth discussion, utilizing logos [utilizing reason, careful thinking] that aims at discovering the truth about something. Aristotle calls dialectic the “counterpart” to rhetoric.
Endoxa
This is the greek word for “common opinion.” It means knowledge that is shared by the average person in a community that is not as exact as the knowledge an expert might have. As a result sometimes we have to try to use “common sense” shared by everyone to make our case; to persuade our audience.
Arete
Arete is one of the three kinds of ETHOS. You are more likely to be persuaded by a person who you trust (ETHOS). One reason you trust a person is because they have good moral character (ARETE) When the greeks thought about ethos, meant that a speaker had good moral character or moral virtue (strength, courage, patience, self control). You trust a person with ARETE.
Eunoia
Eunoia means goodwill. Along with arete and phronesis this is one of the three kinds of ETHOS. You are likely to be persuaded by someone with eunoia (good will) because you feel they want the best for you. Perhaps your grandparents have good will towards you. You know they want the best for you. Maybe your best friend is like this. Even if they are not experts, even if they don’t have the highest character, you know they love you and want the best for you, so you are likely to trust them. Speakers who demonstrate eunoia towards an audience can get them to trust them.
Phronesis
Phronesis means practical wisdom. It is one of the three kinds of ETHOS. You can think of a doctor in a lab coat when you think of phronesis. You are likely to trust them because they are experts, or they have lots of wisdom and experience. If you can get an audience to believe you have PHRONESIS they will be more likely to trust you.
Logos
Think of REASON, LOGIC, CAREFUL argument that is used to prove a point. Logos is one of the three main rhetorical appeals (reasons people will be persuaded by you). Even if you do not have PATHOS, or ETHOS… if you lay out a careful argument (LOGOS)… you can persuade people.
Pathos
Emotion. This has to do with the times in a speech when you show great emotion or you get the audience (or reader) to feel great emotion. A speaker who cries in a court of law may be more persuasive
Sophist (sophistry)
Sophists were foreigners who taught young Greek men the art of persuasion but who were not virtuous. They may have taught their students for money, or taught them how to make money with speaking tricks. Sophists didn’t really care about the truth; they cared more about winning/convincing the crowd. Aristotle says that the good rhetorician cares about the truth (about the end goal) not just about convincing the audience.
Transcendental
Goodness, Truth, and Beauty. This is what rhetoric tries to convince people to SEE. Goodness, truth, and beauty. They are call transcendentals because they TRANSCEND (i.e. rise above) everything. To the greeks what was true was true for everyone. What was beautiful was beautiful for everyone. Good rhetoric is always arguing for the good, the true, the beautiful. Like the sun in the story of the cave, Plato thought there were perfect ideals of goodness/truth/beauty… and that everything in life reflected those ideals just a little bit. The sophists did not always try to persuade people of the the good the true and the beautiful.
The three means of persuasion in rhetoric. (Also known as the three rhetorical appeals).
Logos / Pathos / Ethos. (Logos - your speech has a strong argument, and is clearly laid out. It is very reasonable. Pathos - your speech/writing deeply touches emotions. Ethos - there is something about the speaker/writer that makes a person want to trust them. )
The three parts of EThOS
Eunoia/phronesis/arete
Aristotle’s FOUR reasons why rhetoric is useful.
- To assist in arguing for the truth.
- To persuade people when LOGOS is not enough (or is not available)
- To help a speaker/writer see both sides of an argument.
- To defend your own beliefs (or to defend yourself in court)
Persuade/persuasion
To cause (someone) to accept a point of view or to do something by means of argument, reasoning, or pleading with them.
