GEN - Persuasive Lesson
Persuasive
Classical Appeals
Argumentation is the cornerstone of democratic discourse. Many historians and political scientists trace the philosophic roots of democracy to the Ancient Greeks. It should not be surprising then that the art of the argument intrigued the Greek philosopher Aristotle. Aristotle's general modus operandi (mode of operation) was to divide topics into categories. He was particularly interested in what made an argument appealing to the audience. He noted that some speakers would appeal to the emotions of the mob; others would offer logical solutions. The three main categories of appeals that he identified are logos, pathos, and ethos.
Reading Assignment: On Rhetoric by Aristotle
Click here to read a translation of Aristotle's On Rhetoric in which he delineates these terms Links to an external site.. Read only Book I, Chapter 2 (which begins on page 67 of 419).
Audio of On Rhetoric
Video of On Rhetoric
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