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Greek Rhetoric

{
Bornilla|Fortun|Planes
Slavery, Freedom and

Democratization
Slavery, Freedom and Democratization

Of paramount importance is
the high value the Greeks had
placed on public discourse for
centuries.
The social and economic
changes that began in the
seventeenth century, when
agriculture in Greece shifted
from grain to olives, figs, and
wine.
Slavery, Freedom and Democratization
Warfare and changing
economic conditions,
moreover, seem to have
changed Athenians
understanding of the world
and themselves.
The literature on rhetoric and
oratory from both the Greek
and the Roman periods
frequently mentions the
ability of speakers to attract
large crowds and to awe them
with orations.
The Origins of Rhetoric
{
A form of
Plato (c. 427-347 B.C.): pandering that
Persuasive speech in a influenced the
public forum masses by
telling them
what they want
to hear.

The Origins of Rhetoric


Aristotle, Art of Rhetoric:
It is an art (techn), a

{
Aristotle
counterpart to dialectic (I.
identified Corax
I. 1), and the ability of
and Tisias, two
observing or discovering
Sicilians, as the
in each case the existing
first teachers of
means of persuasion (I. I.
rhetoric.
4), with the aim of securing
a judgment.

The Origins of Rhetoric


5th century BC
Syracuse, Sicily

o Formation of democratic regime after the overthrow of


Thrasybulus the tyrant
o Citizens flooded courts to recover confiscated property
o Art of Rhetoric by Corax and Tisias
To help ordinary people prove their claims in court

Manual on public speaking

Probably contains a theory of how arguments


should be developed from probabilities,
organizations of messages (poem,body,epilogue)

The Origins of Rhetoric


Plato and the Origin of
Rhetoric
Cole and Schiappa Gerard Pendrick
No evidence to support the
Plato and Aristotle attested
claim that Corax and Tisias to the existence of various
were the first teachers of handbooks on rhetoric.
rhetoric Sophists broad understanding
The term rhtorik did not of techn logon (skill of
even exist before Plato wrote argument) did not preclude
his dialogue Gorgias around the more specific application
385 BC. to speeches in courts and the
assembly.
Plato coined the term All our evidence indicates
rhetoric as well as the
that even before Platos attack
term oratory
on (rhetoric) there
existed an evolving discipline
concerned with the
techniques of persuasive
speech
City States in Ancient Greece
Persian War
Slavery
How did one become a
slave?

How were slaves treated?

How were women slaves


treated differently?
The Sophists
The Sophists
From the Greek word for wisdom,
sophia.

Heirs to the proto-scientific


approach to knowledge developed
by the Milesians and the
philosophers who followed them

When the sophists applied their


study and teaching of poetry to
rhetoric, they no doubt found
fertile ground
The Sophists
Protagoras of Abdara
Two sides to every proposition (any
side works)
Gorgias of Leontini
Emotions are important in
persuasion
Places emphasis on style
Isocrates
Highly ethical man with noble
ideas
Might have studied under Tisias,
Gorgias and Socrates
Set up school of oratory
Developed rhetorical style
Had a view of the proper education
of an ideal orator
Plato
Plato
Gorgias:
stinging criticism of rhetoric
practiced in his day

Foundation for an Art of


Rhetoric:
laid down in Phaedrus, it
involved the composition of 3
speeches on love
Aristotle
Greatest theorist ever to write on
rhetorical communication

His Rhetoric (written about 300


bc) was the most influential

Book of the speaker


Book of the audience
Book of the speech
Syllogism and

Enthymeme
Syllogism Enthymeme
The body of persuasion
Rhetorical device that according to Aristotle
starts an argument with a The informal method of
reference to something
reasoning typical of
general and from this it
rhetorical discourse
draws conclusion about
rhetorical demonstration
something more specific. Sometimes defined as a
truncated syllogism
Either the major or minor
premise is left implied
Premises are accepted
opinions
{ SYLLOGISM
{ ENTHYMEME

All men are mortal. Socrates is mortal, since


Socrates is a man. he is a man.
Therefore, Socrates is
mortal.
Real and Fallacious
Enthymemes
(i) Wise men are just, since Socrates is just.

(ii) She has given birth, since she has milk.

(iii) This man has fever, since he breathes


rapidly.
Branches of Oratory
Branches of Oratory
Judicial/forensic oratory
Accuse or defend (justice/injustice)
Deliberative/legislative oratory
Exhort or dissuade (good, advantageous/unworthy,
disadvantageous)
Epideictic/ceremonial/demonstrative
Praise or blame (virtue/vice)
Elements of Argumentation Strategies
Logos
Audience Induction

Deduction

Purpose Syllogism

Sources

Definition
Context
Analogy

Classification
Demand or Exigence Testimony

Consequence
Subject or topic History

Precedent
Persona Chronology

Belief
Thesis Counterargument
Pathos Ethos
Phronesis
Figurative Language Arte
Humor Eunioa
Anecdote Shared Values
Diction Authority
Credibility
Trustworthiness
Motive
Aristotles Rhetorical
Triangle
Aristotle Rhetorical
Game

(play video at 1:01)


Sources:
Williams, James D., ed. An Introduction to Classical Rhetoric:
Essential Readings. Chichester, West Sussex: Wiley-Blackwell, 2009.
Print.
McCroskey, James C. An Introduction to Rhetorical Communication.
Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice-Hall, 1968. Print.
plato.stanford.edu/entries/Aristotle-rhetoric/#7.1
rhetoric.byu.edu/Branches%20of%20Oratory/Branches%20of
%20Oratory.htm
http://
rhetoric.byu.edu/Branches%20of%20Oratory/Branches%20of%20
Oratory.htm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jv5V5mhLyso
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGuXkus8J9I
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NRPNHEHtQEA

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