Chapter One - Public Speaking, a Long Tradition

Chapter Overview:Details the focus of rhetoric and speech in classical education

Discusses the contributions to speech today made by a classical student-turned politician

Addresses the importance of speech and rhetoric training in our daily lives

CHAPTER ONE – PUBLIC SPEAKING, A LONG TRADITION

Chapter One - Public Speaking, a Long Tradition

Two significant differences in education between the Classical Period and today

1. The Classical Period had little government involvement, today the government is involved on several levels

2. The teaching of rhetoric was a fundamental component of the Classical Period, but today that is not the case

CHANGES IN EDUCATION

Chapter One - Public Speaking, a Long Tradition

In the Classical Period there were no lawyers

In the assembly or courtroom citizens spoke for themselves

Sophists taught speech and other topicsGorgias understood the relationship between speaker and audienceLanguage inspired emotionsStyle influenced persuasion

THE SOPHISTS

Chapter One - Public Speaking, a Long Tradition

Protagoras thought everything could be arguedNeed to know both sides of an argument

Critics said this could make the worse case look better

SOPHISTS CONT.

Chapter One - Public Speaking, a Long Tradition

Isocrates, unlike the Sophists he was a citizen of AthensRhetoric and speech were core subjectsKnowledge is limitedGood speakers need to be well informedSpeakers should be morally soundKairos can be a constraint to speakingRepetition and speaking in civic life were important and better than learning by a handbook

FORMAL GREEK SCHOOLS

Chapter One - Public Speaking, a Long Tradition

Unfavorable view of sophists and IsocratesA student of SocratesThought rhetoric was a “knack”Education should focus on philosophy and the search for truth

Philosophy was inquiry, rhetoric was flattery

Did not approve of sophistsRhetoric could be used properly by philosophers

PLATO’S ACADEMY

Chapter One - Public Speaking, a Long Tradition

Tutored Alexander the GreatSchool was the LyceumHe was very pragamaticThree ways of knowing

Techne – experiential knowledgeEpisteme – universal knowledgeIntermediate knowledge – what is intuitively correct to the person

ARISTOTLE

Chapter One - Public Speaking, a Long Tradition

Saw rhetoric as a creative process, not just persuasive

Four functions of rhetoric:Uphold truth and justiceTeaching to an audienceAnalyze both sides of an argumentDefend oneself

ARISTOTLE DISAGREED WITH PLATO

Chapter One - Public Speaking, a Long Tradition

Did recognize a danger if rhetoric was used as some of the Sophists taught

Three sources of persuasion and artistic proofsEthosLogosPathos

ARISTOTLE CONT.

Chapter One - Public Speaking, a Long Tradition

Inartistic proofs are outside of the speaker

EvidenceDataDocuments

Three virtues of styleClarityCorrectnessPropriety

ARISTOTLE CONT.

Chapter One - Public Speaking, a Long Tradition

Had both court and Roman Senate experience

Rose to Consul in the Senate

A man of the people

CICERO

Chapter One - Public Speaking, a Long Tradition

Cicero and the five canonsInventionArrangementStyleDeliveryMemory

CICERO CONT.

Chapter One - Public Speaking, a Long Tradition

During the years of the Roman Republic rhetoric was seen as of value

During the Roman Empire rhetoric was still taught, but focused more on epideictive speech than political speech

QUINTILIAN

Chapter One - Public Speaking, a Long Tradition

Rhetoric and public speaking rose in importance

Vespasian gave grants to artists and teachers to promote education and civic engagement

Quintilian used his grant to assist in funding his school and promoting his writing

EMPEROR VESPASIAN

Chapter One - Public Speaking, a Long Tradition

Said rhetoric was “the art of speaking well”

Five principle duties for any speakersDefend truthProtect the innocentPrevent criminal behaviorInspire the militaryInspire the public

QUINTILIAN

Chapter One - Public Speaking, a Long Tradition

Communication seen like injecting someone with a drug

Seven componentsSenderEncodingMessageChannelNoise ReceiverDecodes

LINEAR MODEL OF COMMUNICATION

Chapter One - Public Speaking, a Long Tradition

Linear Model is inadequate

Transactional Model noted that we send and receive messages simultaneously

Feedback becomes an aspect of the model

TRANSACTIONAL MODEL OF COMMUNICATION

Chapter One - Public Speaking, a Long Tradition

Civic engagement is knowing that one has responsibility to the community

Putnam says that citizen involvement has decreased since WWII

Speech is still seen as important to civic engagement

SPEECH IN DAILY LIVES

Chapter One - Public Speaking, a Long Tradition

Today, people are barraged with media messages

Many of today’s messages are meant to persuade

Training in speech and rhetoric are important due to the numerous messages, in various forms, that people receive daily

THE MEDIATED WORLD