Aristotle on Style

Rhetoric in Ancient Greece

Plato and Aristotle

Rhetoric

Key Ideas

Rhetoric: counterpart [antistrophos] of dialectic. The skill allows one to 1. discover the available means of persuasion.2. debate doubtful matters before a general

audience.

Syllogisms and Enthymemes

• Syllogism (major premise, minor premise, conclusion)– 1. All men are mortal. 2. Socrates is a man. 3.

Therefore, Socrates is mortal.• Enthymemes:– Socrates is mortal because he’s a man. (major

premise missing)– All men are mortal, so Socrates is a mortal. (minor

premise missing)

Enthymemes

• We can’t trust this man because he has lied to us in the past.– Major premise: ?– Minor premise: This man has lied to us in the past.– Conclusion: He cannot be trusted.

• Because people who have lied in the past will continue to lie, we cannot trust this man.

Your Turn!

• Create an enthymeme based on the following syllogisms:1. All insects have six legs. The beetle has six legs.

Therefore, the beetle is an insect.2. All smokers have an increased risk of cancer. This

woman smokes. Therefore, this woman has an increased risk of cancer.

Pisteis

• ethos• pathos• logos

Occasions for Civic Rhetoric

• Deliberative (future; assembly)– Bentsen vs. Quayle – Reagan’s Age

• Forensic/Judicial (past; courts)– Spock defends Kirk– Any Matlock or Judge Judy

• Epideictic (praise or blame; ceremonial)– Obama’s Eulogy for Ted Kennedy

Class Discussion 1/4

• What does style (lexis) mean for Aristotle and why does he object to the way it is taught by the sophists?

Class Discussion 2/4

• What are the virtues of good style? (include discussion of metaphor, frigidities, grammar, and rhythm).

Class Discussion 3/4

• What are the required parts of a speech?

Class Discussion 4/4

• How does Aristotle view the difference between written and spoken (extempore) discourse? (3.12)

Applications

• Get into groups and apply Aristotle’s principles of rhetoric and style to address the following situation.

Toyota Recall

• 2-minute speech for Toyota Motor Sales President & COO Jim Lentz to address recall.– Reassure car owners– Reassure stock holders– Salvage Toyota’s reputation

• Youtube video