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Rhetoric: The Art of Persuasion

Rhetoric is the art of persuasive speaking or writing. It is not just empty or deceptive speech, as some like Plato have argued, but rather involves understanding how to effectively use language and emotion to influence audiences. Rhetoric can be defined as observing the means of persuasion available in a given situation, or the systematic study and practice of effective symbolic expression. Rhetoric is present everywhere in fields like economics, law, and relationships. It uses techniques like logical argumentation as well as appealing to audiences' emotions and the speaker's character.

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Muhammad Rafiq
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116 views15 pages

Rhetoric: The Art of Persuasion

Rhetoric is the art of persuasive speaking or writing. It is not just empty or deceptive speech, as some like Plato have argued, but rather involves understanding how to effectively use language and emotion to influence audiences. Rhetoric can be defined as observing the means of persuasion available in a given situation, or the systematic study and practice of effective symbolic expression. Rhetoric is present everywhere in fields like economics, law, and relationships. It uses techniques like logical argumentation as well as appealing to audiences' emotions and the speaker's character.

Uploaded by

Muhammad Rafiq
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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RHETORIC The Art of Persuasion

Rhetoric is NOT Empty Talk

“That's mere
rhetoric”. Such John Locke:
interpretations are “powerful instrument
oftentimes attributed of error and deceit”.
to Plato (Gorgias)
Defintion

1. The energy inherent in emotion and thought, transmitted through a


system of signs, including language, to others to influence their
decisions or actions.” George Kennedy

2. The  faculty  of  observing  in  any  given  case  the  available  means
 of  persuasion. Aristotle
3. The systematic study and intentional practice of effective symbolic
expression.
Language and Rhetoric

There is obviously no unrhetorical “naturalness” of language to which


one could appeal; language itself is the result of purely rhetorical arts.
The power to discover and to make operative that which works and
impresses, with respect to each thing, a power which Aristotle calls
rhetoric, is, at the same time, the essence of language
Friedrich Nietzche
The scope of Rhetoric

Rhetoric held "entire


dominion over all verbal Rhetoric is Everywhere
pursuits”--Wayne Booth .
• Logic, dialectic, grammar, philosophy, • In economoics, sports, law,
history, poetry, all are rhetoric.” relationships…….
Rhetorical theory: The systematic presentation of the art of
rhetoric, descriptions of rhetoric's various junctions, and
explanations of how rhetoric achieves its goals.

Rhetorical Discourse/ Rhetoric: Discourse crafted


according to the principles of the art of rhetoric, that is, the
product of this art.

Rhetor (RAY-tor): An individual engaged in creating or


presenting rhetorical discourse.
Rhetoric vs Dialectic-Aristotle

Similarities
▰ Each deals with questions that concern everyone.

▰ Each deals with questions that do not belong to a specific science or art.

▰ Each can reason on either side of a case.

▰ Each starts with endoxa or common opinions


Rhetoric vs Dialectic-
Differences
Dialectic Rhetoric
Purpose: Testing an argument Defending an idea or self
Practitioner: Experts in reasoning Ordinary citizens
Method: Question and answer Speech
Issue: General questions Specific questions
Audience: Small audience Large audience
Argument: Syllogism Enthymeme
Proofs: Arguments Arguments, speaker’s character,
and audience emotion
Syllogism

▰ The complete form of an argument is what Aristotle called syllogism.


 Major premise– All men are mortal.
 Minor Premise– Socrates is a man.
 Conclusion--Socrates is mortal.
Cont..
▰ Proposition
 Is a sentence that can be true or false
 I like travelling
 Commands or questions are usually not propositions
 Close the door or How are you?
▰ Premise
 Is a proposition that logically supports a conclusion
▰ Conclusion
 A proposition that logically follows from a premise
Enthymeme

▰ The missing piece (either a premise or a conclusion) in an argument


 All items in the store are good.
 Bread is an item in the store.
 ……….

 All big cities offer transport to its residents


 ………
 Lahore offers public transport
Charateristics of Rhetorical Discourse

 Planned,
 Cicero’s elaborate system- Inventio, dispositio, elocutio
 Adapted to an audience,
 Aristotle on Audience- Enthymeme
 Shaped by human motives,
 purpose
 Responsive to a situation,
 Situated- crafted in response to a set of circumstances
 Dialogic
 Persuasion-seeking.
 Alters minds
1- Tests ideas
2- Advocates our beliefs
Social 3-Distributes power
Functions of
Rhetoric 4- Discovers facts
5- Shapes knowledge
6- Builds communities.
Resources

▰ The History and Theory of Rhetoric 6th edition (2018)


▰ https://www.coursera.org/learn/communicationtheory-academia-practic
e/home/week/4
▰ The Encyclopaedia of Rhetoric
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