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
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