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Aristotle : The Three Principles Of The Characteristics Of Aristotle

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Aristotle proposed there were three principles used in making an argument: ethos, pathos, and logos. His proposal was based on three types of appeal: an ethical appeal or ethos, an emotional appeal, or pathos, and a logical appeal or logos. For Aristotle, a good argument would contain all three. ‘Of the modes of persuasion furnished by the spoken word there are three kinds. The first kind depends on the personal character of the speaker [ethos]; the second on putting the audience into a certain frame of mind [pathos]; the third on the proof, or apparent proof, provided by the words of the speech itself [logos]. Persuasion is achieved by the speaker’s personal character when the speech is so spoken as to make us think him credible’. -ARISTOTLE Ethos – Personal Character of the Speaker The mode of persuasion “Ethos” deals with the character of the speaker. The intent of the speaker is to appear credible. According to Aristotle there are three prerequisites that are necessary to appear credible: • Competence • Good Intention • Empathy Ethos is portrayed during the performance (action). Originally, action encompassed voice, gesture, facial expressions, proxemics, body language and movement. Later this was separated in action and pronunciation, whereas the first is about the bodily eloquence and the second the actual vocal lecture. The ethos of the speaker is transmitted via his self-portrayal, this mostly about nonverbal and preverbal (vocal elements – tone, pitch, etc.)

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