Aristotle’s Rhetoric

What do the people in

your church think about rhetoric?

How is rhetoric abused? What did Plato think of rhetoric?

Are they right?

Socrates: “Professor Stilley, shame on you; how can you talk about rhetoric without first defining

it?”

What is Rhetoric? [Opening paragraph] What is the purpose of rhetoric? Is it all about

persuasion?

How did Aristotle define Rhetoric?

What are Aristotle’s three proofs furnished

through speech? 1. 2. 3.

[okay, go ahead and look at page 74]

Demonstration

So, what are appropriate means of persuasion?

Do we use syllogisms when we are engaged in

discourse? [page 75]

What is a syllogism?

“Stilley shops at Dollar Tree.”

What is an enthymeme?

Probability Signification Evidence Example Induction

What?

Deliberative Forensic Display

[page 80]

Three Types of Rhetorical Speech

“…all exhortations and dissuasions are

concerned with happiness…” [page 87] How important was happiness according to

Aristotle? What is Happiness according to Aristotle. What are the elements of Happiness according

to Aristotle?

Deliberative Speech

According to Aristotle, deliberation is primarily

about means rather than ends. [page 91] Therefore, if the chief end of man is

happiness, the deliberative orator primarily addresses means to happiness, not happiness itself.

Would this principle be the same for Christian preachers/teachers?

Happiness as an end, not means

Democracy Oligarchy Aristocracy Monarchy

Which is the United States? England? Russia?

Four Constitutions [page 102]

Virtue and vice Nobility and baseness

What is the difference between laudation and encomium? [page 108]

Display

According to Aristotle, what role does pleasure

play in the mechanics of human behavior?

Forensics

“By law I mean on the one hand particular law

and on the other general law, special being that defined by each group in relation to itself, this being either unwritten or written down, and the general law being that of nature.” [page 125] Empedocles : murder Alcibiades: slavery

Two kinds of crimes; against the community

and against an individual Adultery Mugger Draft-dodger Tax-evasion

Community or Individual

Does equity mean that everyone should be

treated the same? [page 127]

Equity?

When Aristotle speaks of emotion and

character as proofs, is he giving ground to the sophists?

Emotion

Common sense Virtue Goodwill Friendship/enmity Fear/confidence Shame Gratitude Pity Indignation Envy Jealousy

What role should they play?