Aristotelian Rhetoric: Progression of Sophists' Nascent Teachings

As Gorgias spread his wisdom and skill through the Encomium of Helen, other philosophers also expressed their wisdom and skill through contributing multiple perspectives on rhetoric. As other philosophers have studied rhetoric, there has been many different perspectives and criticisms that add to the complexity of understanding rhetoric and its effect on society. The Dissoi Logoi adds a

In speaking of effective rhetorical persuasion, we must appeal to our target audience in a way that will get them to accept or act upon the point of view we are trying to portray. Aristotle said that we persuade others by three means: (1) by the appeal to their reason (logos); (2) by the appeal to their emotions (pathos); and (3) by the appeal of our personality or character (ethos) (Corbett and Connors 32). When Socrates, an infamous rhetorician, gave his “apology” to his fellow Athenians after being accused of atheism or not believing in the gods and corrupting the youth with similar teachings, he employed all three modes of persuasion to prove his innocence. Despite the

The sophists were rhetoric teachers in Athens who lived at the same the as Socrates. They were major intellectual figures, and the term “sophist” means “wise person.” At that time “sophistry” was roughly equivalent to “rhetoric,” and rhetoric is the art of persuasion using language. However, the term ‘sophistry’ is now generally used to refer to manipulative forms of rhetoric.

Aristotle also believed that rhetoric can be forensic, epideictic, and deliberative, which is the second division of his work. The art of persuasion and a way of advising about things to come is the best definition of deliberate rhetoric. This pattern has been used throughout the film and it is another obvious appeal to make it more effective and achieve its goals. Aristotle argues that “for using deliberative rhetoric, the speaker needs to consider deterrents, inducements and the motives people have for avoiding or doing the actions in the question”

Aristophanes’ Clouds, is a religious commentary on the changing philosophical climate in Greece. This is exemplified when Socrates, the teacher of Sophistry remarks, “… Zeus has been dethroned by Vertigo” (Aristophanes 830). Aristophanes depicts two different Greek ideologies clashing together causing an ideological shift within Athens. This shift is shown through the tension between different traditions, humans falsely redefining cosmic roles, and reconciliation of previous beliefs. These conflicts show that Greek theology is being redefined by a Sophist revolution that causes humans to make their own false reality with Clouds or Vertigo replacing the true gods.

While Henry’s speech was not particularly long, it packed quite the proverbial punch through its efficacious use of rhetoric and symbolism, and is looked to even today as an example of persuasive oratory. Throughout this paper, Henry’s rhetoric will be analyzed via an Aristotelian method of rhetorical analysis called the “rhetorical triangle.” According to an article on Study.com, written by Diedra Taylor, almost every form of rhetorical device can be categorized as one of the three points on this triangle: “Ethos,” “logos,” and “pathos.” While Aristotle, himself, did not originally postulate a triangular method of examination, he was the first influential intellectual to write about the three points previously mentioned, and because of this, the theory is credited to him. Taylor uses the analogy of a nacho chip to represent a particular piece of rhetoric, and toppings of guacamole, meat, and cheese to represent ethos, logos, and pathos, respectively. While a chip with only one or two of the toppings is still good, it is most delicious with all three in conjunction. The same is true of rhetoric; it is most persuasive when it contains a variety of the three types of devices, all working in concurrence with one another. In addition to this, it is very possible for some rhetorical anecdotes and devices to fall under the umbrella of more than one point on the triangle, but for the purposes of this paper, they will be examined one at a

What is unusual about the first section of the Gorgias is that, rather than disabuse one for claiming to know some Y or Z, Plato tried to show that rhetoric is one of moral bankruptcy. Socrates wished to know what is rhetoric and its purpose. Gorgias is consulted by Socrates since he was deemed an expert in rhetoric. Rhetoric for Gorgias is the ability to persuade others, specifically jurors in the courts, members of the Council, and citizens attending the assembly (Plato, 13, 452e). However, Socrates astutely found that other professions have the ability to persuade. Gorgias responded by stating that the ability to persuade is specifically for mass meetings (Plato, 15, 454b). Persuasion can take two paths: one that confers conviction without proper understanding and another which confers knowledge. Rhetoric as described by Gorgias is persuasion which leads to conviction. Therefore, rhetoric is an agent of persuasion to produce conviction and not to educate citizens. The nature of persuasion produced is based on opinion and not knowledge. The rhetorician is an expert in knowing what the masses want, which is pleasure. From this knowledge the rhetorician can please the crowd to gain their support. In contemporary American politics this is an indispensable ability where the citizens’ passions are used in order for the politician to be elected to public

In this essay I would like to talk about the nature of sophism and how it changes religion, politics and education. In the first part of my essay I am going to define the meaning of sophism, in the second part I am going to talk about the connection of sophism and aristocrats, in the third part of my essay I am going to talk about the changes in religion with the help of sophism; in the fourth part I will examine the changes in decision-making and in last part I will talk about Socrates use of cross-examination to find out the meaning of the oracle’s message. As a source of information I am going to use Plutarch’s essays Pericles and Alcibiades, Plato’s Apology and Crito, and Thucydides’ Peloponnesian War.

In Rhetoric, Aristotle states, “Let rhetoric be [defined as] an ability, in each [particular case], to see the available means of persuasion” (Kennedy, 2007, p. 37). Aristotle is saying that rhetoric is not just the art of persuasion through speech. He was saying that rhetoric is the art of discovering the methods of persuasion available in all situations. This relates to the goal of many figures in the current day political climate. This goal is to discover methods of persuading as many people as possible as often as possible. A politician’s use or rhetoric can be compared to Aristotle’s study of rhetoric in that both utilize the artistic proofs and practice the three species of rhetoric. Aristotle’s definition of rhetoric closely matches the goals of modern politicians, and so rhetoric has become ingrained into our modern day political process.

The art of rhetoric comes in many different ways, practices, and ideals, but was ultimately started by the Ancient Greeks and adopted by the later Romans. Robert W. Cape Jr. not only explores the connection between the two, but also analyzes Cicero, an ancient Roman, and his ideology that suggested orators being the best qualified to write and present history correctly, both singularly and through the use of rhetoric. The article Cape published, “Persuasive History: Roman Rhetoric and Historiography”, analyzes Cicero’s main argument of entrusting orators with history’s “immortality” through his interpreted citations, Latin semantics, his affinity to his own intellectual means, and a nonexistent chorus.

The Gorgias is a dialogue in which Socrates expresses his ideas with others about rhetoric. From the dialogue, it can be argued that the philosopher is a mortal enemy of rhetoric. He condemns it on ethical and epistemic grounds. Socrates argues that rhetoric is not a real knowledge because it is not a legitimate art, and that the teachers of rhetoric are nothing but fraudsters. In addition, he asserts that rhetoric is ethically bankrupt and its main objective is to gratify the ignorant and enhance its experts’ power to practice it.

In the ancient Greece manifestation of speech making, it was an important component in the Ancient Greece society. During this period, the culture was based solely based on oratory. The art of spoken word and persuasion were celebrated during this time period. The ability to speak persuasively had been viewed as a natural talent, or event a gift from the Greek Gods. Cicero’s Five Canon of Rhetoric played a significant role and assisted with speech making.

Rhetoric is an art form created before the reign of Gorgias, by Aristotle. As time progressed throughout the ages, Aristotle taught the art of rhetoric to his student Socrates, who eventually taught it to Plato. The art gradually adapted into the rhetoric we use today, providing the reason as to why Plato chooses to recreate the account of Socrates and Gorgias’ discussion. Plato shows us how Socrates’ knowledge of proper usage of rhetoric is vaster than that of Gorgias’. He helps us visualize the various ways he uses rhetoric, to provide the reason for his ability to use rhetoric better than the other Orators. This is illuminated by Socrates’ use of pathos, in his argument of pain and pleasure, the use of ethos in speaking about the comparison of medicine and gymnastics, and his use of logos in his debate on the body and soul. Plato places special consideration into choosing the topics he highlights in the story because of Socrates innate ability to refute these topics the way does.

It is of a great importance to understand the history of rhetoric in order to understand the rhetorical device (metaphor) that will be investigated in this study. The art of rhetoric was developed by the Greeks around 400 C.B. It was defined as ‘ars bene dicendi, the art of speaking well in public.’ The well-known Greek philosopher, Aristotle, is often credited with developing the basics of ‘the dynamics of public speaking.’ His work The Rhetoric (Ars Rhetorica) consists of three books. In the first book, Aristotle presents the purposes of rhetoric and a working definition, and he introduces the three types of rhetoric: deliberative, forensic, and epideictic rhetoric; the second focuses mainly on the audience, and the third is about the

The Sophist views and beliefs originated in Ancient Greece around 400 B.C.E. The Sophists were known as wandering rhetoricians who gave speeches to those who could afford to listen. The Sophists deeply believed in the power of rhetoric and how it could improve one’s life. Plato on the other hand was opposed to all Sophist beliefs. He viewed the Sophists as rhetorical manipulators who were only interested in how people could be persuaded that they learned the truth, regardless if it was in fact the truth. Plato basically opposed every view the Sophists held true and tried to disprove them throughout his many dialogues. The Sophists and Plato held two very contrasting views and this paper will attempt to sift through them all in hopes of